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A Mine, a Name, and a Lawsuit: The Romance and Ruin of the Famous Ida H

31/01/2026 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

With thanks to Gary Cowans: Truth 16 February 1930, page 6 THE FIGHT FOR IDA H Who discovered the Ida H gold mine, twenty miles from Mount Margaret, in the State of Western Australia? Who got the half-million sterling extracted from it? Whence was its name derived? Ask those questions of old Dick (Richard) Heaphy, […]

Filed Under: People, Places & Towns, Ripping Yarns & Tragic Tales Tagged With: Australian History, Goldfields History, Ida H, Western Australia

Coolgardie’s Great Grudge Match – The Belle, The Boxer, and The Betrayal!

01/11/2025 By Moya Sharp 1 Comment

In the days of early Coolgardie, it was often the case that when a disagreement occurred, it was settled in the time-honoured way by bashing each other senseless. This was welcomed by the general population, who were somewhat starved for entertainment. It also ensured your ‘disagreement’ was well and truly ‘settled’. Coolgardie drew to the […]

Filed Under: Hotels, People, Places & Towns, Ripping Yarns & Tragic Tales, Sport Tagged With: Coolgardie, Goldfields History, Western Australia

Why ‘Black Bob’ Left Ben Hall’s Gang

01/11/2025 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

You may not know, but in the Coolgardie Cemetery lies the son of one of the ‘Supposed’ members of Ben Hall’s bushranger gang. His name is William HASSELL – buried 24 Jan 1898, aged 34 years, died at Coolgardie Hospital, Cause: Enteric Fever, Father: William Thomas ‘Black Bob’ HASSELL, Mother: Julia LALOR, Born: Ballarat East, Victoria, […]

Filed Under: People, Places & Towns, Ripping Yarns & Tragic Tales Tagged With: Australian History, Bushranger, Cemeteries, Coolgardie

Kanowna’s Boy Hero – James Sexton

01/11/2025 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

To rescue a fellow mortal from a watery grave, from a burning building, or under other exceptional circumstances requires the display of personal bravery and lack of regard for the safety of the rescuer. To risk all and to face death to save a mate is often heard of. These deeds are rewarded by public […]

Filed Under: People, Places & Towns, Ripping Yarns & Tragic Tales Tagged With: Australian History, Goldfields History, Kanowna, rail history, Western Australia

A Woman of the Black Range: The Troubled Life of Florence Menon

01/11/2025 By Moya Sharp 1 Comment

Run to Earth at Barambie: The Arrest of Florence Menon, 1906 Among the many stories that emerged from the remote settlements of the Western Australian Goldfields, few capture the character of the era quite like that of Florence Menon. In the days when sly grog shanties dotted the bush and the police waged a constant […]

Filed Under: People, Places & Towns, Ripping Yarns & Tragic Tales Tagged With: Australian History, Black Range, Boulder Cemetery, Cemeteries, Goldfields History, Sandstone, Western Australia

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