Nunngarra Cemetery – Black Range (Ivy Linden)
Reserve 9270 – 28°04’45.1″S – 119°14’38.0″E
43 Known Burials – In the Shire of Sandstone, approximately 12 km from the Sandstone townsite.
On an active Mining lease, the Cemetery is hard to find, and the graves are overgrown in the bush.
‘From Oct 1903 to Feb 1908’
Out on the wastes of the Never Never –
That’s where the dead men lie!
There where the heat-waves dance forever –
That’s where the dead men lie!
ALLENDER Francis – d 13 Jul 1905 at Black Range, 55 years, Occ: Teamster, Cause: Suffocated by a load of timber which overturned on him, Father: Francis ALLENDER (Butcher), Mother: Margaret KENNEDY, Born Kilrush Ireland, in WA 45 years, Married to Hannah CULLETON in Greenough WA at 27 years, Children: Julia Theresa 21 years, Brother: Thomas Francis 27 years, Reg: East Coolgardie 13/1905, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
AUBURN Albert George – (Grave on boundary fence) d 25 Oct 1905, at Nungarra, Occ: Miner, Cause: Fall of earth in the Squib GM, Accidental, Verdict of Coroner, Father: George AUBURN (Storekeeper), Mother: Mary Anne ECK, Born Wodonga West Victoria, in VIC 19 years, In WA 2 years, Reg: East Murchison 16/1905, Buried Nungarra Cemetery. Mine Death – www.wavmm.com
BOYLE Robert – d 6 May 1907, at Nungarra Police Station, Cause: Senile Decay, Occ: Prospector, 69 years, Born Donegal, Ireland, In WA 21 years, Reg: East Murchison 15/1907, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
Mr Robert Boyle, an old goldfields identity and one of the pioneers of the Kimberley field, passed away early on Monday morning, death being due to senile decay, although the deceased’s age was given as 69 years. He had been at the Nunngarra hospital for some time, but left the institution on Sunday morning with the object of going to Mount Magnet by coach, arrangements having been made for his admission to the Old Men’s Home at Geraldton, it was found however, that he was too weak to undertake the journey, and Boyle was accommodated at the police station where he was made as comfortable as possible. Dr Keenan thought at the time that the invalid. might be able to travel a day or two later, but he sank rapidly and died on Monday morning. The interment took place the same afternoon at the Nunngarra cemetery, Mr McDonald, the undertaker, completing all arrangements.
CALDER Alister Douglas – d 2 Mar 1907 at Berrigan via Black Range, 14 months: Father: Neil CALDER (Mine Manr) Mother: Mary Jane Priestly, Natural Causes. Born Perth, WA, Reg: East Murchison 22/1907, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
Alister Douglas CALDER – Images Find a Grave
CLARKE George – d 20 Mar 1906, at Nungarra, 52 years, Occ: Cook, Cause: Heart Failure, Parents Unknown, Reg East Murchison 12/1906, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
COUNDON William – d 21 Jan 1907, at Nungarra Hospital, Black Range, 35 years, Occ: Accountant, Cause: Chronic nephritis, Reg: East Murchison 8/1907, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
CUMMINGS Patrick Joseph – d 16 Jul 1904, at Nunngarra, Cause: Heart Failure, Occ: Prospector, Father: Thomas CUMMINGS, Mother: Anne CASHEN, Married to Eliza Kelly in South Australia in 1881, Children: Joseph Patrick Cummings, James Martin Cummings,
Anne Cummings (1888), Beatrice Ellen Cummings (1890). Cummings was the grandfather of Bart Cummings, legendary horse trainer. Patrick Joseph Cummings came from Eurelia, South Australia; however, he was born at sea on the way to Australia. Information supplied by his great-grandson, Michael Beerworth, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
A well-known person at Silverton and Broken Hill in the early days of those fields, Mr Patrick Cummings, who had recently arrived at Black Range, representing an Adelaide Syndicate. On the previous night, he appeared in the best of health and played cards with his mates from 8 o’clock to 10 o’clock and then went to bed. Sometime later, groans were heard, and on going to his camp, his mates found him seriously ill. As his condition did not improve, Police Constable Williams was sent for, and everything possible was done for him, but without success. The cause of death was given as failure of the heart, a consequence of excessive worry owing to ill success in prospecting.
FRAWLEY Simon – d 1 Feb 1908, Nungarra Hospital, 28 years, Occ: Miner, Cause: Peritonitis, Father: John FRAWLEY (Labourer), Mother: Mary WALSH, Born: Clare, Ireland, In WA 8 years, Registered by J Frawley (Brother), Reg Black Range 1/1908, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer 7 February 1908, page 2
GAFFNEY Amy Beatrice – d 21 Oct 1907, at Sandstone, 40 years, Cause: Premature Childbirth/Pleurisy, Father Rev Joshua SMITH (Methodist Minister), Mother: Mary THORNTON, Born: Launceston, TAS, In WA 8 years, Married to Walter Prior Gaffney in South Yarra, Victoria on 25th June 1895, Children: Doris Thornton born 1896, Claude Walter born 1899, Cecil Walter born 1902, Walter born 1907, Reg Black Range 10/1907, METH, Buried: Black Range Cemetery.
GAFFNEY Amy Beatrice – Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer 25 October 1907, page 2
GAFFNEY Walter – d 21 Oct 1907, Cause: Stillborn/Premature, Father: Walter Prior GAFFNEY, Mother: Amy Beatrice SMITH, Reg Black Range 9/1907, Buried with mother, Buried: Black Range Cemetery.
GARVIN John Forrest – d 7 Aug 1907, 40 years, at The National Hotel, Sandstone, Occ: Labourer, Cause: Heart Failure, Valvular Disease, Born England. He is believed to be a brother of the Resident Medical Officer in Colombo, postmortem held, Registered by Thomas CAMPBELL (Friend), Reg: 2/1907 Black Range, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
GEARY Frederick Henry – d 8 Oct 1907, 42 years, Occ: Engine Driver, at Birrigrin, Black Range, Cause: Natural Causes, Verdict of the Coroner, Father: Henry GEARY (Medical Practitioner), Mother: Tempe Hoysted TUOMEY, Born: Kyneton, Victoria, In WA 11 years, Single, Registered by John Elton GEARY (Brother), Reg: 7/1907 Black Range, Buried Black Range Cemetery.
GRONCHI Mary Elizabeth – d 5 May 1907, 42 years, at Sandstone, Black Range, Widow, Cause: Pulmonary Phthisis, Consumption, Father: Thomas SIMPSON (Carpenter), Mother Jane DOWNEY, Married twice: First time in Melbourne VIC to Andrew BLACK at 23 years, Second time in Rutherglen VIC to John GRONCHI at 28 years, No Children, Reg: East Murchison 17/1907, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
GRONCHI Mary – Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer 11 May 1907, page 2
HAYDON Edward – d 21 Jan 1907, Maninga Marley, Black Range, abt 35 years, Occ: Miner, Cause: Cardiac disease, Reg: East Murchison 7/1907, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
HEYDON Edward Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer 26 January 1907, page 2
IRVINE Andrew William – d 10 Apr 1904, 37 years, Occ: Battery Manager, Natural Causes, Father: Arthur IRVINE (Stonemason), Mother: Mary LESLIE, Born Shetland Isle, Scotland. In WA, 10 years, married to Florence Anna Mary BULLEN, no children, Reg: 1597/1904, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
Andrew William IRVINE – Photo Kevin Coate – 1990
JONES Frederick Henry – d 13 Aug 1905, 52 years, Occ: Miner, Cause: Enteric Fever, Father: John Williams JONES (Dec, Merchant), Mother: Emlen Worth LONGMAID, Born Walston, London, England, Reg East Murchison, 15/1905, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
JONES John – d 24 Dec 1903, 45 years, at 6 mile well near Black Range, Buried on Christmas Day in the Black Range –Nungarra Cemetery, in the Sandstone District. A Prospector who was just getting into his trap when the horse started, and he was thrown against a Mulga tree, a portion of which penetrated his brain, causing almost instantaneous death. Born c 1858, Wales, United Kingdom, Reg 3/1904 East Murchison, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
JONES Robert – d 7 Jul 1907, 38 years, on the Birrigrin to Nunngarra Road, Occ: Labourer, Cause: Inflammation of the lungs, Postmortem held, Registered by F Smith (Employer), Reg: 1/1907 Black Range, Buried Black Range Cemetery.
KITTELTY Henry – d 5 Oct 1907, 59 years, at Black Range Hospital, Occ: Prospector, Cause: Pneumonia, Father: William KITTELTY (Bootmaker), Born: Colac, Victoria, In WA 12 years, Married to Marjorie HENRY in Ballarat VIC, Children: Charles Henry (26), Harry Andrew John (24), Ethel Eliza (22), Lily Louisa (20), William Burgess (18), Reg: 8/1907 Black Range, Buried Black Range Cemetery.
LIDDELL William ‘Val’ – d 12 Feb 1908, at Nungarra Hospital, 43 years, Occ: Miner, Cause: Accidental Death at the Black Range GM, Crushed between a skip and a beam. Leg was amputated, died of shock, Reg: 5/1908 Black Range, METH, Buried Black Range Cemetery.
LYNES John Wheeler, AKA LYONS – d 3 Oct 1906, near Hans Irvine’s Lease, 6 miles North of Nungarra, 57 years, Occ: Butcher, Cause: Dislocation of neck as a result of a buggy accident, Father: William LYNES (General Grocer), Mother: Cecilia WHEELER, born Lewisham, Kent, England, in WA 19 years, Single, Reg East Murchison 20/1906, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
MENON Florence – d 8 Oct 1907, 12 hours, at Nunngarra Hospital, Sandstone, Cause: Premature birth (7 months), Illegitimate, Mother: Florence MENON, Reg: 4/1907 Black Range, Buried Black Range Cemetery.
MURAHATA Yuwakichi – d 9 Mar 1907, at Lease No 5B, Nungarra, 48 years, Occ: Market Gardener, Haemorrhage of artery after attack by a pig, Father: Seitaro MURAHATA (Market Gardener), in WA 13 years, Reg East Murchison 9/1907, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
NORRIS John Francis ‘Jack’ – d 5 Dec 1906, at Hancock’s near Nungarra, Black Range, 34 years, Occ: Prospector, formerly accountant, Cause: accidentally killed by a fall of earth, Father: Richard Augustus NORRIS (Banker), Mother: Marienne FENNESSY, born Fitzroy Melbourne VIC, In VIC 10 years, In NSW 12 years, In WA 12 years, Single, Reg: East Murchison 23/1906, Buried Nungarra Cemetery. Mine Death – www.wavmm.com
Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer 5 January 1907, page 4
FATAL MINING ACCIDENT -PROSPECTOR KILLED BY A FALL OF EARTH.
Soon after commencing work on the morning of the 5th December, a young man named John Francis Norris was killed by a fall of earth at Claim 91B, situated at the Breakaway, better known as Hancock’s. The unfortunate man, who had not long resided in the district, was prospecting with Charles Garden, and they were testing the reef in a drive from a 50-foot shaft on the claim mentioned above.
Garden lowered his mate down the shaft about 8 am and, for an hour or two, busied himself about the surface. Calling out to his mate, he was surprised to receive no answer, and Garden descended the shaft to investigate. He was shocked to find that seven or eight tons of rock and earth had fallen from the stope over the drive and realised that Morris had probably been killed some time previously. Assistance was quickly procured when the worst anticipations were realised. Norris must have been killed instantly, as the body and vital organs were terribly crushed. The deceased, whose brother is a solicitor at Kalgoorlie, was buried in the Nunngarra cemetery, a large number of prospectors and others being present.
OUTRED John William – d 16 Feb 1908, 43 years, Nungarra Hospital, at Hancock’s, near Nungarra, Cause: Phthisis, Father: William Giles OUTRED, Mother: Eliza FOSTER, Registered by A E OUTRED (Brother), Born: QLD, In WA 12 years, Single, Reg Black Range 2/1908, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
PHILLIPS Henry – d 12 Oct 1907, 7 hours, at Hancock’s, Black Range, Cause: Premature Birth (6 months), Father: Henry PHILLIPS (Mine Owner), Mother: Edith Ellen ANDREW, Reg: 5/1907 Black Range, Buried Black Range Cemetery.
PIERCE William Bushel – d 6 Oct 1903, at Gregory Street, Black Range, Occ: Restaurant and Boarding house keeper, Cause: Heart failure, Father: PIERCE (Gardener), born Kent England, in New Zealand 45 years, in WA 9 years, married to Elizabeth WILSON in Christchurch New Zealand, Children: Cecilia 25 years, William 17 years, 1 male deceased. Reg: East Murchison 22/1903, Buried Nungarra Cemetery. (This is the first recorded burial in the Nungarra Cemetery.)
PRIME Alfred Charles – d 6 Feb 1907, at Mt Magnet Hospital, Occ: traveller for. Messrs. E. S. Wigg and Son, Perth, and formerly traveller for Messrs. G Robertson and Co, Melbourne, Reg: East Murchison 11/1907, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
RICHARDS James – d 11 Dec 1906, on the Black Range Company Lease 669B, near Nungarra, Black Range, Occ: Miner, Cause: Struck on the head by ‘monkey’ in shaft at the Black Range Lease, Verdict of the Coroner, Reg East Murchison 22/1906, Buried Nungarra Cemetery. Mine Death – www@wavmm.com
ROBERTS Leslie – d 14 Jun 1906, at Sandstone near Nungarra, 8 years, Cause: Croup, Father: Thomas John ROBERTS (Circus Proprietor), Mother: Elizabeth ALPINE, born Longreach, QLD, in WA 6mths. Reg: East Murchison 15/1906, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
ROBINSON Roland Alick – d 12 Oct 1907, 13 years, at Black Range, Cause: Accident, Fracture of skull and Haemorrhage of brain, Father: Richard ROBINSON (Wheelwright), Mother: Charlotte Catherin MAY, Born: Urana NSW, In WA 12 years, Registered by William DEARY (Step Father), Reg Black Range 6/1907, METH, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
SHIMAMOTO Ohara’Oshinia’ – d 9 Jun 1907, 33 years, Occ: Laundress, at Nungarra Hospital, Cause: Pleurisy and Phthisis, Father: Kiphechin OSHINIA (Gardener), born Nagasaki, Japan, in WA 12 years, married to Kuisup SHIMAMOTO in Japan at 27 years, Reg: East Murchison 21/1907, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
SHIMAMOTO Ohara – Image Find a Grave
SIMMS John Thomas – 29 Jan 1908, 68 years, at the Nungarra Hospital. Cause: Enteritis, Occ: Nightwatchman/Miner at the Black Range Company Mill, Reg: 6/1908 Black Range, METH, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
SKINNER Charles Hamilton – d 14 -16 Jan 1906, 5 ½ miles East of Nungarra, 56 years, Occ: Miner, Cause: Thirst and Exposure, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
Western Mail 3 February 1906
DEATH FROM THIRST.
A sad story of death from thirst comes from Black Flag. Working at the Sandstone mines in that district, the early part of this month, was a miner named Charles Skinner, nearly 60 years of age. After dinner on Sunday, January 14th, Skinner set out for a short prospecting ramble, intending to return to camp the same evening. This he failed to do, but his absence does not appear to have occasioned any alarm to his mate at the camp. Skinner did not return, and in fact, so far as is known, wag never seen alive again. As he had not returned by Wednesday morning, the 17th, the police were communicated with, and a search party conducted by Constable McNamara and a tracker set out. The heat at the time was intense, and the task of searching for the missing man proved no light one. For four days, the search was continued, and eventually the dead body of the unfortunate man was found lying in the bush about three miles from his camp. The body was in an advanced stage of decomposition and bore signs of having already been attacked by ants and iguanas.
The appearance of the place suggested that death had taken place in circumstances somewhat different from those which generally characterise men who die of the terrible sufferings caused by thirst. Skinner retained his clothes, and apparently, realising that he was lost and without water, had collected boughs and grass and, having with these made his deathbed, he lay down and awaited his approaching end, which, from indications, had taken place some 48 hours after he left his camp on the Sunday. Skinner bore the reputation of being a steady, industrious man and was believed to be a good bushman. It is said that he had received a sunstroke in Queensland, and it is surmised that, owing to this and the intense heat prevailing in Black Range the early part of this month, the poor old fellow lost his bearings and was unable to find his way home. A considerable sum of money was found on his body. So far as can be ascertained, he leaves no relatives in the State.
STEPHENS Thomas Richard – d 29 Feb 1908, at Sandstone Hospital, Occ: Fireman, from a sulky accident, Laceration of liver, Born: Coburg VIC, In WA 7 years, Single, Reg Black Range 3/1908, RC, Buried Nungarra Cemetery. (Last Burial in the cemetery – future burials in the Sandstone Cemetery)
STEPHENS Thomas – Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer 6 March 1908, page 2
THOMPSON Arthur – d 26 Feb 1906, Nungarra, Occ: Miner, 39 years, Cause: Heart failure from dysentery, Parents unknown, born NSW, Reg: East Murchison 10/1906, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
THOMPSON Isaac – d 1 Jan 1907, at Eclipse GM, 9 miles East of Nungarra, 37 years, Occ: Miner, Cause: Heart failure brought on by excitement during a fight on 31st Dec 1906, Verdict of the Coroner, Father: William THOMPSON (Merchant), Mother: Ann CROW, born NSW, In VIC 28 years, In WA 9 years, Single, Reg: East Murchison 2/1907, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
TRACEY David – d 28 Sep 1907, 49 years, at Hacks near Sandstone, Occ: Miner, Cause: Morbus Cordis, Born: Limerick, Ireland, In WA 5 years, qaReg Black Range 3/1907, Buried Black Range Cemetery.
VICKERS Arthur – d 9 Apr 1906, Nungarra, 42 years, Occ: Contractor, Cause: Suicide, Gunshot wound self-inflicted, Father: George Allen VICKERS, born Howden England, in WA 14 years, Married in Wagga Wagga, NSW at 25 years, to Kate (Maiden Name Unknown), Children: Violet 16 years, Ida 7 years, Reg East Murchison 14/1906, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
VINE Walter – d 6 Aug 1906, Nungarra Hospital, 33 years, Occ: Miner, Cause: Chronic Brights Disease, Father: Joseph VINE (Carrier), Mother: Helen CARIS, Born Londonderry, Ireland, in NSW 13 years, In WA 5 years, Reg: East Murchison 17/1906, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
WALL William – d 13 May 1907, at Nungarra Hospital, Occ: Miner, Cause: Fall from a ladder in the shaft GM Lease Hawthorn Reward, 109B, causing dislocation of neck. Father: William WALL, Born Liverpool, England, in VIC 12 years, in WA 5 years, Reg East Murchison 16/1907, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
WILLIAMSON John – d 3 May 1907, 69 years, Occ: Prospector, in Black Range Hospital, Cause: Malignant disease of the bladder, born Northamptonshire, England, in WA 14 years, Married in Adelaide SA to Mary BURNS, Children: Thomas James 45 years, George William 41 years, Sarah Ann 40 years, John Richard 37 years, Francis Henry 35 years, Herbert 33 years, Albert Edward 29 years, Reg: East Murchison 13/1907, Buried Nungarra Cemetery.
WILLIAMSON John -Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer 11 May 1907, page 2
WILSON Charles – d 10 Nov 1907, 40 years, at Nunngarra Hospital, Black Range, Cause: Double Pneumonia, Reg: 11/1907 Black Range, Buried Black Range Cemetery.
Unidentified grave at Nunngarra Cemetery – Image Find a Grave.
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
As usual, great information about Nunngarra town / cemetery, its people of note & interest;
# Francis Allender D 1905, married to Margaret (nee) Kennendy related to Kalgoorlie Kennedy family;
# Patrick Cummings D 1904 grandfather of the famous Australian/ international horse trainer- Bart;
And true Australian icon;
# O’harra Shimamotto, D 1907; B Nagasaki Japan, destroyed by atomic bomb WW11 August 1945,
Oh how the family tree spreads & deposits its goodwill & bones all over the country, not knowing how connected they still are to all of us ( now more so ) those still living & beyond;
Fantastic work Moya;
Cheers Merv Kennedy
Old GoldenGate Kid;