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

Robert Kirkpatrick – grave tales

02/10/2021 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

Robert KIRKPATRICK died on 29th July 1909 in his camp at Bronzewing mine site, Western Australia. The cause of death was lung trouble brought on by leading at Broken Hill, NSW. Robert Kirkpatrick ‘AKA as Bob Kirk’ was born on 18th June 1868 in the Forbes district of NSW. His parents were John Kirkpatrick and […]

A History of ‘The Round’ by Darren McAullay

02/10/2021 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

The Round By Darren McAullay It is, without doubt, one of the biggest, most colourful, and successful racing carnivals to be staged anywhere in Australia. It is steeped in history, has been the scene of some of the most incredible events both on and off the track and for many, it has etched memories that […]

Death by Despair – Leonora Snapshots

25/09/2021 By Moya Sharp 2 Comments

In the last edition of the ‘Leonora Cemetery Snapshots’ we looked at ‘all the little children’. This edition looks at suicide which was a sad but common cause of death in the early days of the Goldfields. Sometimes it was a release from certain and horrific death by thirst or heat. Other times it was […]

Human Gold by N.E. Gledhill

25/09/2021 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

This sad and poignant story from the pen of N E Gledhill is kindly shared by his Great Nephew Allen Gledhill with thanks: STEVE HARDING lived with his wife in a tumble-down shanty on the outskirts of the Golden Mile. They were a queer couple. She, a diminutive, white-haired old woman, with deep-set eyes and […]

James Alfred Cock(s) – grave tales

25/09/2021 By Moya Sharp 1 Comment

James Alfred Cock was born in Tredegar, Monmouthshire in Wales on the 17th December 1850. He was the eldest son of Joseph Cock and Ann nee Wherry. In 1870, at aged 19yrs, he embarked from Plymouth Devon England on the ship the Colonial Empire to Victoria, arriving in Melbourne in October of 1870. He gave […]