A Case of Mistaken Identity –

While recently doing my daily post on the WAVMM ‘The Western Australian Virtual Miners Memorial’ I found that it was the anniversary of a disaster which caused the death of three men at the Englishman GM in Kookynie. These are the names of the … [Continue reading]

Benjamin Strange – Pioneer Profile

Benjamin Edward (Ben) Strange (1868-1930), cartoonist, was born on 10 May 1868 at the cavalry barracks, Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland, son of Benjamin Strange, private in the 10th Hussars, and his French wife Augustine, née Menefoz. After … [Continue reading]

The Lake Eva Oil Hoax

In the early days of the WA Goldfields there were, as there are now, conmen who want to make a dollar without working. This is one such story. In May of 1923, Robert Rothkehl and Ernest Thompson claimed that they had struck oil at Mt Eva near … [Continue reading]

An Old Timer Remembers –

OLD-TIMER'S LETTER Employee in First Post Office in Kalgoorlie Kalgoorlie Miner 17 May 1950, page 2 Mr. Lionel J. Dudley, an old-timer, sent an interesting account of some of his experiences in the early days of the goldfields to Mr. J. D. Teahan, … [Continue reading]

“Burly” McLean Drops in – by Allen Gledhill

from Allen Gledhill. John Gary's great-nephew Claimed To Be Strongest Digger On three Fields "BURLY" McLEAN DROPS IN by John Gary They're among the men who tell you that the gold rush days -  the days of overnight fortunes, bare-knuckle fights, … [Continue reading]