This is a very early photograph of St Mary’s Primary school in Dugan Street, Kalgoorlie from the Western Argus newspaper in 1903. The building on the right is still there and is behind the admin office, I think that it may now be the school library. It was then called St Mary’s Convent School and […]
“The Challenge’ for the ‘Belle of Coolgardie’
In the days of early Coolgardie it was often the case that when a disagreement occurred it was settled in the time honoured way by bashing each other senseless. This was welcomed by the general population who were somewhat starved for entertainment. It also ensured your ‘disagreement’ was well and truly ‘settled’. Coolgardie drew to […]
Painless Haircuts – Murrin Murrin
T Roberts Hairdressing Saloon (not Salon) Hair Cut Painlessly, terms cash! I just love this photo. Taken at Murrin Murrin (between Leonora and Laverton),Western Australia. Is this a cunning advertising ploy or did some hair stylists really hurt? Perhaps he also sold alcohol (to numb the pain maybe) and just in case ‘terms cash’ so no […]
Ghost Towns – Gwalia and Big Bell
Although Gwalia is deserted today, it’s managed as the Gwalia Ghost Town and Museum, providing visitors with an insight into a historical period and way of life that has now vanished. Visitors can wander around the old townsite, where the original mine manager’s house (designed by Herbert Hoover, a young geologist who was later to […]
Wooroloo Sanatorium:
The Wooroloo Sanatorium Wooroloo Sanatorium, in the Darling Ranges of Western Australia, was established by the State Government in response to the infectious diseases, such as typhoid, diphtheria, and tuberculosis, that were widely prevalent in the aftermath of the mass migration that came as a result of the gold rushes in Western Australia in the […]





