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 Deserted Camp

16/03/2019 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

The Deserted Camp Deserted now- no more you stir’d By those in quest of gold Now your but a memory blurr’d Of what you were of old Yet though the camp of silence sleeps Except for songs of birds Theres language in your silent heaps More elequont than words You speak to me of other […]

The Story of the Murchison – Part 1

14/03/2019 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

As told by the nephew of the Late J C Peterkin, also called J C Peterkin, in Perth, March 1946. About the years 1889-1890, Gilles MacPherson and J C Peterkin met in Perth. Both were old Kimberley and Queensland prospectors, they had known each other for a long time but had never actually worked together. […]

Mr Schumann – a man of enterprise!

25/02/2019 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

Margaret Hartley’s ancestors had a long and varied history in the Murchison district of Western Australia. She has very kindly sent me the following photographs and details of the Schumann family. The Schumann family outside their house at Day Dawn about 1907 GULLEWA GOLDFIELD – The W.A. Record – Saturday 27th February 1897 Gullewa Goldfield […]

A Murderous Assault at Menzies:

16/02/2019 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

Albany Advertiser (WA : 1897 – 1950), Tuesday 14 January 1902, page 3 Tragedy at Menzies. A shocking tragedy occurred at Menzies on Sunday night. About 10.30 o’clock the attention of persons in Shenton street was attracted by loud screams proceeding from a shop kept by Frank Walton. Several persons rushed to the place. They […]

Dead Men’s Gold:

16/02/2019 By Moya Sharp 1 Comment

A Story of the Early Days of Hannans. Written in Nov 1904. I’m full up of Hannans Find,” remarked my mate. ” I’m off back to Coolgardie”. “You’ll go alone,” I laconically added. I felt a bit disappointed in Dick. I was a curious fellow in those days and usually without a mate, but I […]