William John Rea (Ray) Tonkin was born on the 5th Feb 1895 in Bendigo Victoria but came to Kalgoorlie at a young age. He was a blacksmith and farrier by trade. He survived at Gallipoli and through WW1 and died 2nd Dec 1966 and is buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. WJRT was a Gallipoli veteran. […]
Ghost Towns – Gwalia and Big Bell
04/01/2015 By 5 Comments
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 […]
Victor Watts – grave tales
08/11/2014 By 4 Comments
“A Most Unusual Story” This is a strange story about one of the men who are listed on the Eastern Goldfields Miners Memorial Memorial which is located at the WA Museum Kalgoorlie Boulder in Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie. His name is Victor Watts. Several years ago I had a phone call from a homeowner to say […]
The Kalgoorlie Hotels- Judds Pub
10/09/2014 By Leave a Comment
Kalgoorlie Hotel ‘Judds Pub’. Hannan Street Kalgoorlie This photo is not one often seen of this well know local iconic building. Built c 1896 from ‘white stone’ it has remained a going concern ever since. It hasn’t always been called ‘Judds’ it was named as such from James (Judd) Mahony who gave his nick […]
The Corner Shop – Elliott and Gaillard
08/09/2014 By 1 Comment
I am sure that this building in our main street will look familiar to many of my readers. Today it is little changed and is on the corner of Hannan and Porter Streets in Kalgoorlie. Today it is known as ‘Monty’s Restaurant’ formerly Montgomery Bros Drapery and Merchandise. However, in 1903 the business was as […]
