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

Finding the Lihou Family – mission complete!

26/07/2017 By Moya Sharp 5 Comments

NOTE: Since this story was originally posted, the family has been located and the original photos passed on. If anyone would like to contact them do let me know – moyasharp@outbackfamilyhistory.com.au I would like to tell you about a collection of photographs and family information of which it is my ‘Mission’ to find a home […]

A Family Heirloom – Gary Martin

25/07/2017 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

From Gary Martin – Grandson of Thomas Kempt The following letter was one my Grandfather Thomas Kempt received. He was ex Royal Navy and came to Australia in 1919 with his wife and my mother who was only one year old. Initially they lived in a tent at Ora Banda but later shifted to Kalgoorlie […]

The Death of Dr Maxwell – grave tales

23/07/2017 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

Kalgoorlie Western Argus 25 March 1902, page 20 Death of Dr. Maxwell. Death last Monday claimed one for whose demise this community is the poorer indeed Dr. Patrick Arthur Maxwell, such men as he, whose life as others knew it, was a conspicuous example of the most encouraging side of frail humanity, are but rare. […]

Simply Mavis – by Margaret Hamilton

09/07/2017 By Moya Sharp 1 Comment

Book Review: – This book is a biography written by a 90 year old nurse/midwife who was one of a family of eighteen children born on the Murchison Goldfields just after the turn of the century (early 1900’s). From humble beginnings Mavis succeeds in fulfilling her training at Royal Perth Hospital and was to become […]

Dead Man Rocks:- the murder of Phil Mack:

08/07/2017 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

Western Mail 16 December 1937, page 11 The Murder of Phil Mack DEAR “Non-Com.”-I am indebted to an old-timer and friend of South Guildford, Mr. W. E. Routledge, for sending me “The Western Mail”, and I always read with interest the Dolly Pot. One sees some glaring inaccuracies of early day events, but this can […]