Kundana is situated 25kms west-northwest of Kalgoorlie and 27 km nor-northeast of Coolgardie. In the 1890s the area was known informally as the ’21 Mile’ because it was 21 miles from Coolgardie on the Black Flag Road. Other unofficial names used were ‘Barkers Find’ after the first prospector in the area and also ‘White Flag’ (see story below).
Bonzle Map – Kundana
Coolgardie Miner – 19 October 1896, page 6
BARKER’S FIND – 21 MILE.
A meeting of the Progress Committee was held on Thursday at the 21-Mile Hotel when the secretary was instructed to read the article which appeared in the Coolgardie Miner on Wednesday with reference to the exemptions. Several members of the committee spoke on the subject concurring with the article, and a resolution was passed to call a public meeting for Saturday, full particulars of the meeting will appear in tomorrow’s issue.
The first wedding at Barker’s Find took place on the 10th when Mr. George BILLETT and Miss Carrie BRAYBROOK were united in bonds of matrimony. The Rev. Mr. Hay of Black Flag officiated.
The Progress Committee at Barker’s Find intends to increase the number of members on account of the place going ahead so quickly and the mines showing well. The mining managers are to be specially asked to join. New Find, at 21 MiIe— Last Wednesday was a scene of excitement near the Latrobe mine where good gold had been found. Over a hundred acres were pegged out, mostly by Coolgardie people.
6 Oct 1897 – The town site of Kundana has been formed within the Coolgardie goldfields. Sixty-one lots out of the 76 are numbered in an open format, and the remaining 15 have been reserved for public buildings. Lots will sell for £25.
Daily News 2 October 1897, page 4
21 Mile Hotel barkers find – 1897 later Kundana
In April of 1896, the local people sent a petition with 58 signatures to the Inspecting Surveyor H S King asking for the town site to be gazetted so that businesses and public utilities could be established. This application was approved. King wrote to the lands department and proposed the name as Kundana for the new town site ‘Kundanha’ an aboriginal word meaning ‘place of the quiet one’ in the Wankgatah language, it is not known why King selected this name. The street names were selected from the names of some nearby leases.
A school site and a cemetery were marked out but there was never a teacher or school house. The cemetery was at first close to the town but then was moved some distance away, but there were no burials recorded. The only official building to be opened was a post office. Sadly by the time the town was finally gazetted in Sept 1897 many of the mines were closing down.
From Dolly Pot’ by John Malcolm
Western Mail 24th Sept 1942
WHITE FLAG
The earliest know name was the 21 Mile
(also known as Kundana and Barkers Find)
DEAR ” John. “Yes” I certainly knew White Flag. In fact, it was I who gave it that name! We were seated one night around the condenser fire on the Lady Brassey Gold Mine, trying to find a name for the township and I suggested White Flag. I went there in July 1895 and was for a short time, the only woman there. So I was there at its birth, death, and burial. I do not remember Alf Perkins by name, as the water for Cobb and Co’s, horses were always booked to the firm, but I clearly remember the driver. He was a young man, rather dark, knew how to handle the horses, and was pleasant to speak to.
Yes, I could tell you a little about rations. We had desiccated potatoes (minced and dried) which we used to put in the frying pan with a little dripping, pepper, salt, and water, and cook until all was a pulp. We also had dried mixed vegetables, which we used for soup and stews. The dried goods were put up in air-tight tins by Swallow and Ariel. To make our bread, we used to save a “pup” (a piece of dough) and keep it in the flour until wanted. At the Mutual Store, apples were 10d per lb.
White Flag Consols main shaft – Coolgardie Pioneer 14 November 1896, page 20
They said the ground was very rotten and required a lot of strong timber. I think it was reported that the gold went off in solution when crushed, but I picked up a piece of stone on the Glasgow GM, showing gold freely. That gold was hard and bright. At the present day, there are so many improvements in gold-saving devices, that show and that would not pay in the early days are showing good profits. A four-inch pipeline from the Kalgoorlie Water Scheme would supply fresh water. I think it may be 12 or 16 miles across the country, and if possible, clay piping should be used, as all the ground is so highly mineralised, that iron piping would soon be rusted through. There is plenty of water, but, put your hands in, and In a few minutes, they will be white and glistening with salt. Perhaps I may someday tell you about the walk to the White Flag from Coolgardie. Now the days are so short and I have only one pair of hands and lots for them to do.
by AGNES GITTOS, Northcliffe WA.
Post Office Directory 1898 White Flag
BARROWMAN E
BILLETT George (Pitman)
COBB S J (Prospector)
GITTOS E (Storekeeper & Condenser Proprietor)
HAIR John (Condenser Proprietor)
HARMER W J (Prospector)
KERR John (Eldorado Hotel)
LYONS Mrs (Royal Hotel)
MCDERMOTT John (Mine Manager)
MCFADDEN James
MAYNE Miss (Royal Hotel)
MITCHELL W H (Pitman)
NENNINGS James (Post Master)
ROWE John (Condenser Proprieter)
ROWETT James (Miner)
SAVAGE H (Condenser Proprietor)
SOMERS A E (Storekeeper & Condenser Proprieter)
TEASDALE A W (Groom)
WILLCOCKS William (Glascow GM, Manager)
WILSON James (Mine Manager)
Kundana” by Ann T Freeman & Julie H Thom – history of an early gold mining area of the town & of the mine –
lots of pictures of documents but no index – Published by White Flag Joint Venture – ISBN 0 7316 4950 8
Book cover photo: “A quiet yarn”. Two men, one with pipe in mouth, sitting in canvas foldup beach chairs outside a large tent with extension, nearby leaning an axe and shovel and water bag. Two panning trays leaning up against one man. 1895. This photpograph is not actually at Kundana but is supposed to be somewhere on the Goldfields.
Moya Sharp
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