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
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
“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 ‘Eight Hours’ Demonstration 1900 to 1914
Kalgoorlie Western Argus 24 May 1904, page 23 The image above is of the annual ‘Eight-Hour’ Demonstration. Labour’s annual holiday from 1900 to 1914. These processions were very popular both with the various trades who constructed floats to showcase examples of their trades and the local public who came to watch. Thousands of people, both […]
The Giantess – Coolgardie Miner 1898
The Giantess – This lady travelled the country and made a lot of money, and was much admired. It seems the female form was viewed quite differently 116 yrs ago! From the Coolgardie Miner, Aug 1898 In Bayley Street last night, for the first time in the Goldfields, there was seen ‘Mademoiselle Rewald’ who has […]