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

Mollie’s Box – A family story

26/01/2019 By Moya Sharp 5 Comments

by Pam Caddy In 1999 a television program ‘Adopt A Soldier’ promoting the Perth Battye Library, featured a copy of a photograph of Pam Caddy’s father and four of his brothers all serving in WW1. This was the first time that Pam had seen the photo and she found out that it was from a […]

Westonia rolls of honour :-

23/01/2019 By Moya Sharp 3 Comments

These are Roll of honour board’s in the memorial room, located inside the Old Miners Hall (Miners and Mechanics Institute) at Westonia which was built in 1914 & fully restored between 2007 – 2009. The war memorial room was added and completed in 2008 to hold the WWI Roll of Honour (right) and the newly […]

A Picnic in Bush – Sirr Family

21/01/2019 By Moya Sharp 6 Comments

I was recently sent this wonderful photograph from OFH reader, Peter Sirr, who has given me permission to share this great image from his family album. Peter tells me:- This is a Sirr family photo circa 1914 (or before). They are at a picnic on a woodline out of Gwalia/Leonora. The older white haired man […]

The Murder of the Duke of Sutherland:

16/01/2019 By Moya Sharp 2 Comments

John Sutherland, better known at the ‘Duke of Sutherland’,died on the 26th February 1895 in his own camp at Nannine, in the Meekatharra district. His age was not know. He was a miner who was shot dead by and old friend, Henry August Muller, who then killed himself. Both men were old identities at Nannine. […]

Brown Hill Road Tales – by Michael Johansen

12/01/2019 By Moya Sharp 6 Comments

Being raised in Brown Hill Road, East Kalgoorlie or the Paddy Hannan reward, etc. was a wonderful experience for many reasons. Let me share several of my many experiences with you: In the 60’s and early 70’s Aboriginal elders used to come to our home at 76 Brown Hill road in the search of bread, […]