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 Unknown Swagman – a verse

14/04/2018 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

The Sun 1 Aug 1915 SWAGMAN UNKNOWN. Age About 5O. The body of a swagman was recently found and: buried in the bush out from Coolgardie His name was unknown, and he was about 50 years of age. In the loose mould Out from Coolgardie Bury an old . Pioneer hardy. Not old. in […]

Edmund MANNERS – grave tales

13/04/2018 By Moya Sharp 2 Comments

Edmund Manners was born in Oswego, Oswego County, New York, United States of America on the 2nd September 1845. He was to meet his death on the Great Boulder mine on the 13th April 1899. His headstone in the Kalgoorlie cemetery is in remarkable condition for its age of 119 yrs. Prior to coming to […]

Whats in a Name – The Moonta Turks

13/04/2018 By Moya Sharp 4 Comments

I have often wondered about the names of these teams. They are both Cricket and Football teams with the same name, the Moonta Turks. This in its self is quite unusual I think, and I have not been able to find out the origin of the name. I first noticed it because my maiden name […]

The Dismal Traders:-

12/04/2018 By Moya Sharp 1 Comment

Undertakers, or funeral directors, have been on the Goldfields from the very first days. The occupation of making coffins was usually done by someone with a trade in carpentry and they usually produced other items such as furniture. Coach builders were also often the makers of coffins. Not all of the makers of ‘funeral furniture’ […]

Charles Cutbush – people profile

12/04/2018 By Moya Sharp 6 Comments

Mr Charles Augustus Cutbush was born in Sydney NSW onn the 2nd Jan 1865, the son of William Montague CUTBUSH, pastoralist of Pillacawarrena Station and was educated at the Grammar School in that city. As a youth he figured prominently at cycle meetings, and on several occasions showed his calibre by carrying off certain special […]