The people of the Goldfields

The Goldfields of Western Australia was and still is made up of many people, from poets to politicians, from saints and sinners and everything in between. I hope to tell you the stories of some of these people either famous or infamous or just the ordinary folks. Sometime the most ordinary people do the most extraordinry things

The Queen of White Feather –

The Queen of White Feather A true story of the introduction of the first barmaid in Kanowna in 1896 by John Drayton. Smith’s Weekly Sydney – 2 September 1922, page 24 TOM DOYLE, licensee of the Kanowna Hotel (White Feather) in 1896, introduced the first barmaid to the fields. There were, women in the camp, […]

Snake’s Opals by W Watkins

Western Mail Perth – 29 December 1949 Snake was afraid! It was dangerous to have ‘struck it rich’ when Harrod was around . . . Snake Sherwood was just beginning his after-tea smoke when he heard the horse approaching through the mulga scrub that bordered the old opal cut. “Damn!” he muttered “Just as I […]

The Death of Stephen Grace

Western Mail Perth -19 October 1907, page 16 AN EAST MURCHISON TRAGEDY THE DEATH OF STEPHEN GRACE – MURDERED BY NATIVES A telegram was received this afternoon from Constable Walker, who proceeded from Wiluna to bury the body of Stephen Grace, one of Kirkpatrick Bros party of prospectors who was speared through the chest by […]

Dinny O’Callaghan’s Brainwaves –

Kalgoorlie Miner 15 Apr 1966- Dinny’s Brainwaves ‘Oysters and a Petrol Pourer’ When Coolgardie was new and luring men from all parts of the country, many interesting characters rode or trudged into town. Pint-size bantam weight Dennis ‘Dinny’ O’Callaghan arrived there only eleven days before his 18th birthday. He came to Australia with his family […]

John Reside – grave tales

Kalgoorlie Western Argus 7 October 1902, page 19 THE LATE MR. J. RESIDE M.L.A., First Member for Hannans. The news of the sudden death of Mr. John Reside. M.L.A., first representative for the Legislative Assembly for Hannans, was received with regret throughout the goldfields and, it is not too much to say, throughout the State. […]