A Woodline Childhood by Ron Matthews

From the late 1890s until the early 1950s, because all heavy machinery was steam-driven, vast quantities of wood were required to fuel the boilers, and coal was too expensive. Consequently, Wood Lines were born. The last surviving company was 'The … [Continue reading]

Across No Mans Land in Central Australia – part 3 (final)

Part 1 Part 2 Advertiser SA  2 February 1933, page 11 ACROSS NO MAN'S LAND IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA Camel Bitten By Copperhead Mr. Terry Given a Fright. by Michael Terry LIGHTNING struck a nearby range and fused the rock, one … [Continue reading]

The Rooks Family – grave tales

I was recently contacted by Maureen Jones who has sent me two wonderful photographs to share with you. The photographs are from Eric Rooks Collection now belonging to his niece Valerie Grayden, who has given permission for these photos to be … [Continue reading]

Scandal at Murtagh’s Private School

The following story is about a teacher who went from town to town setting up schools for a short time then leaving under a cloud of suspicion. First in Perth in 1892 then to Kalgoorlie and  Coolgardie then on to Perth again then Bunbury with the same … [Continue reading]

Across No Mans Land in Central Australia part 2

The Chronicle SA - 9 February 1933, page 52 Part 1 can be read here - Across No Mans Land part 1 Next day we reached the shore of the lake, an immense area of white and brown salt, extending west and south-west until the … [Continue reading]