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 Day Dawn Christmas Tragedy:

06/04/2019 By Moya Sharp 20 Comments

I have read of many tales of hardship and awful accidents over the years, but the following story is without doubt, one of the saddest and most tragic of all I have ever come across. I first read about it 11 years ago when I was contacted by Ian Leithhead, who asked me to assist […]

Fond Memories shared – the Mt Ida Reunion

30/03/2019 By Moya Sharp 4 Comments

Mt Ida (Copperfield) In August 2008 people traveled from interstate and as far away as Canada, for a weekend reunion of former Mt Ida residents at the old gold mining town site. Some 92 people gathered for the reunion, held on the last weekend of August 2008. The reunion started with a barbecue at the […]

Patrick Lynch – pioneer profile

28/03/2019 By Moya Sharp 5 Comments

Patrick Lynch, one of the oldest residents of Kalgoorlie, was born in Kilkee, County Clare, Ireland, on the western coast near The Burren, just NW of Kilrush, on 13 May 1858. His father was the late Mr Patrick Lynch, owning a farming property in that district. He was educated in schools in his native town, […]

Water is Scarcer than Gold:

28/03/2019 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

After his working day as a blacksmith, Jack Parker would meet regularily with other volunterr firemen in Meekatharra for a chat and for training. Out would come the big hoses and reels for ‘wet work’ routines. The traditional brass helmets were worn for occasions such as Easter demonstrations but the most essential commodity for firemen […]

The French Cook and his family :

26/03/2019 By Moya Sharp 1 Comment

This is quite a well-known photograph, but until recently, I had not known who the people were. I have been contacted by Glenda Slan, who was able to tell me about the photograph and some of her family history. Glenda said, “The gentleman is my great great Grandfather Louis Fremery (he was French and a […]