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

Goldfields Gallipoli Veteran – William John Rea (Ray) TONKIN

04/01/2015 By Moya Sharp Leave a Comment

William John Rea (Ray) Tonkin was born on the 5th Feb 1895 in Bendigo Victoria but came to Kalgoorlie at a young age. He was a blacksmith and farrier by trade. He survived at Gallipoli and through WW1 and died 2nd Dec 1966 and is buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. WJRT was a Gallipoli veteran. […]

Ghost Towns – Gwalia and Big Bell

04/01/2015 By Moya Sharp 6 Comments

Although Gwalia is deserted today, it’s managed as the Gwalia Ghost Town and Museum, providing visitors with an insight into a historical period and way of life that has now vanished. Visitors can wander around the old townsite, where the original mine manager’s house (designed by Herbert Hoover, a young geologist who was later to […]

Hugh O’Donnell – WA’s Youngest Gallipoli Hero

26/11/2014 By Moya Sharp 3 Comments

Young Hugh Brian ‘Hughie’ O’Donnell was the youngest West Australian to die at Gallipoli. He was born in Boulder in 1898 to John and Lily O’Donnell. He was living with his parents in Kanowna and when he signed up he was still at the Eastern Goldfields High School. The military authorities in Kalgoorlie passed him […]

A Fine Moustache – ‘It is an Art”

23/11/2014 By Moya Sharp 1 Comment

As we are coming to the end of November for 2014 I wish to thank all those brave soles who have ventured, for the first time for some, to grow a mustache to raise funds to help mens health. Not all the mustaches are as fine as our Mr McNair’s but as Hercule Poirot, the […]

Thirst or Treachery? The Tragic Fate of Tom Cantwell

23/11/2014 By Moya Sharp 1 Comment

Thomas Cantwell Died of Thirst or Foul Play? The following item appeared in the local paper in Camblin, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, Ireland on the 24th Dec 1895: Perished between Norseman and Coolgardie Western Australia, supposed from thirst, Tom Cantwell (43 years), one of the best fellows who ever pulled off a shirt. Poor Tom was […]