My Dearest Annie – The Missingham Letter ‘1’

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David Missingham was born in 1855 in Kiama New South Wales. He was a mining Engineer and Mayor of Charters Towers in 1893. In 1897 he traveled to Western Australia, arriving before his family. He sent many letters back to his wife Annie and their eight children. One of his children, Hal Missingham, was to […]

The Publican and The Pig – Coolgardie 1905

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‘The Sun’ – April 1905 Coolgardie  Paddy Murphy ran a ‘Shypoo’ (sly grog) ranch unbeknownst to the authorities. His establishment was always identified by Paddy’s favorite pet pig. Paddy could not read or write, nor could his wife Bridget. Their system of accounting didn’t apply the rules of double entry it answered all practical accounting […]

The Goat Lady – Hilda Jarvis

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Hilda Jarvis (Nee Jones)  ‘The Goat Lady’.  This is a photo of her taken in 1990 by Roger Garwood and features in his book ‘Off Like Flies’. I was lucky to meet both her and her son, George. Towards the end of her life, she had to move into town and lived at the ‘Little […]

Whats in a Name – Street Names of Kalgoorlie Boulder

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This publication was first published in 1996 and was written by the late Mr E A Dawson. It gives the origins of street names through Kalgoorlie Boulder. Here are a couple of entries:- MARSHALL STREET, Piccadilly:- John Marshall was a member of the Kalgoorlie Municipal Council in 1901. He was born in Scotland in 1859 […]

When the Marvel Loch Mine Fell In –

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22nd April 1959 – Australia was shocked by the news that two men had lost their lives 500ft down a Broken Hill Mine. At the same time, the name of Mazza appeared in the obituary notices of the local press. Probably, it bore little significance to any but sorrowing friends and relatives, for few could […]