Kunanalling Graves:

KUNANALLING — The town grew up on the goldfields, located 32 kilometres north west of Coolgardie. It was gazetted in June 1893 just a few months before Kalgoorlie. Originally known as 25 Mile, the name was changed later to Kunanalling which in the Aboriginal dialect of the area means place of the eagle hawk.

The first mining lease in the area was taken up by John Dunne and Alexander Forrest in November 1893. The mine was originally known as ‘True Blue’ and went on to be renamed ‘Blue Bell’.

The town continued to function until the start of the Second World War but after that time it was gradually abandoned. Today, all that remains of a once thriving community, are the ruins of the Premier Hotel.

Remains of the Premier Hotel, Kunanalling 2020

There are only six burials in the cemetery at Kunanalling, this is probably because of its close proximity to Coolgardie where most of the burials of Kunanalling residents took place. The first burial was in 1899 and the last in 1905.

Cemetery Reserve 4271 (In a creek about 3km SW of town site)

BURNELL George —  d 19 Jan 1901, age 77yrs, at Salisbury St, Kunanalling, Cause believed to be old age, Father: George BURNELL, Born Bristol, England, In VIC 46yrs, In WA 6yrs, Married to Louisa Harriet DAVIS on 31 Mar 1853 in London England, Children: Henry Wooles b 1854, Mary Anne b 1856, George Wooles b 1857, Mary Louisa Wooles b 1859, Edward Wooles b 1861, Thomas Davis b 1863, John Thomas b 1865, John Wooles b 1870, Reg Coolgardie 16/1901, Buried in the Kunanalling Cemetery.

Coolgardie Miner 21 January 1901, page 4

ERSKINE unnamed male — d 27 Jul 1905 stillborn, Cause: Premature birth, Father: Ebenezer James Alexander ERSKINE (Miner), Mother; Maria HAYMAN, Reg Coolgardie 49/1905, Buried in the Kunanalling Cemetery.

ERSKINE Maria — d1 Aug 1905 age 30yrs, at Kunanalling, Married woman, Cause: Post partum sepsis, pulmonary congestion, Father: William HAYMAN (Shipwright), Mother: Not known, Born: Perth WA, Married to Ebenezer James Alexander ERSKINE in Perth at age 27yrs, Children: Muriel 1yr, 1 male deceased, Reg Coolgardie 51/1905 , Buried in the Kunanalling Cemetery with her still born son.

Coolgardie Miner Monday 7 August 1905

HOLTFRETER William John Frederick — d 1 Jul 1902 age 12 months, at Associated GM Kunanalling, Cause Marasmus, Father: Wilhelm Johann Friedrich HOLTFRETER (Blacksmith), Mother: Elizabeth Mildred SNADEN, Born Coolgardie WA, Registered by P Walker (Friend of the parents), Reg Coolgardie 65/1902, Buried in the Kunanalling Cemetery.

MATTHEWS Thomas — d. 26 Mar 1901, age 53yrs, at town lot 26, Kunanalling, Cause: That on the 26th March 1901 he met his death committed by his own hand by hanging, Verdict of the Coroner, Born: Tasmania, In VIC 46yrs, In WA 5 mths, Single, Reg Coolgardie 30/1901, Buried in the Kunanalling Cemetery.

Daily News – Perth – 27 March 1901, page 3

WARD Annie — d. 4 Mar 1899 age 1 month, at Premier Lease Kunanalling, Cause, Premature Birth, Marasmus, Father: David WARD (Miner), Mother: Mary McCORMACK, Born Kunanalling WA, Registered by James RYAN (Friend), Reg Coolgardie 44/1899, Buried in the Kunanalling Cemetery.

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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