The Outback Family History Blog
has just turned 12 years old this month.
What began as a quiet, personal quest to capture and preserve the spellbinding stories that caught my eye has exploded into an extraordinary adventure! From a humble spark of curiosity, my little project has grown into a vibrant community, with a staggering 7,500 readers now subscribed to the mailing list—each one drawn in by the same magic that first captivated me. My guiding mantra?
If it fascinates me, it’ll likely interest others too.
To keep things fresh and far beyond just my own tastes, I’ve been blessed with an outpouring of contributions from “visitors”—incredible family sagas and treasured photos straight from private collections that add depth and color to our tapestry. Fellow story-hunters, including one of my tireless volunteers, are always on the lookout, passing along gems that demand to be shared. The real thrill, though? Those electrifying, unexpected tales that surface when you’re chasing something else entirely—each one a reminder of the wild, unpredictable beauty of storytelling.
Where our visitors are from – Google Analytics
The site’s top 10 subscribers are distributed across various locations, ranked in order of the number of subscribers as follows: Australia, North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, China, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada, Indonesia, and Germany.
Google Analytics tells me that during these ten years there have been:-
1,700,329 unique page views
I’m amazed, it just seems to ‘self-generate’. Each Saturday, four new stories are added to the website. Once each month on Sunday Nights, Outback Family History has a spot on the ‘We Remember’ show with Harvey Deegan on 6PR Radio. Each Tuesday, the Kalgoorlie Miner selects a full-page story from the blog for their history page.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you goes out to each and every one of you for your unwavering support, as well as your kind and uplifting comments. Your encouragement has been truly invaluable.
There are over 2100 stories on the blog as of today, so do a keyword search on
What you are interested in, and I’m sure you will find a story you will find interesting.
Moya Sharp
Latest posts by Moya Sharp (see all)
- Blood on the Mulga Plains: The Last Day of John Sutherland - 28/02/2026
- A Brother’s Return in Mourning: Tragedy on the Coolgardie Goldfields - 28/02/2026
- The Contract at Old Warden Shaft - 28/02/2026
CONGRATULATIONS 🙌 amazing dedication, THANK YOU 🙏
A hearty congratulations Moya, you are keeping our history alive. xo
Congratulations, Moya. I am amazed and delighted at the number of stories you have uncovered.
Congratulations Moya. So much history has been saved because of your efforts. And some amazing stories uncovered along the way. Thank You.
Congratulations Moya and contributors. It’s wonderful to keep this history alive.
Hi Moya, I have copied an excerpt from the family history I am writing on my family tree.: – “1895 – I have found through several searches of Trove, a letter to the Editor of The West Australian newspaper dated 7th September 1895 by Minna Compton. Signed: Minna Compton, Government Hospital Fremantle. This was actually 2 years before the Fremantle Government Hospital opened.
Minna Victoria was one of 2 Nurses working at a Fremantle Temporary Hospital in 1895″ in an old Boarding House or possibly the old Pensioner Barracks, that according to the records I have seen, was clearly inadequate for the purpose. They appear to have had to deal with a Typhoid epidemic with inadequate outside washing and sterilizing facilities. Minna was paid the grand sum of Three pounds a month for 12 hour days.”
For this grand sum the two nurses employed to look after 25 or 30 Typhoid patients had to wash all the soiled bedding in cold water tubs out in the open outside the building as well as attend to the needs of the patients and do the cooking of food as well.
Sorry, I cant get the image I have of the newspaper article to copy across. The article was in the The Western Australian Saturday 7th September 1895.
I have her marrying David Bell in Southern Cross on 1st February 1896 (From their Marriage Certificate).
My father thought they met while David Bell was in Hospital but I have no way of verifying this. The only thing that is certain it was a case of opposites attract! Minna was a very short person who barely came up to David’s shoulder. David was very tall a – the tallest in his family and could have been 6’5″ tall. His 3 surviving children were all tall. My father was the youngest and the shortest at 6’and half an inch.
Kind regards,
Max Bell
Congratulations thats fantastic Moya well done.
Hi Moya
Thanks for your posts…. always interesting and different…. people’s stories….love reading them.
Appreciate what you do.
Lyn
Congratulations Moya! A great achievement.