Struck by Lightning – a lucky man

Kalgoorlie Western Argus 28 January 1908, page 20 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. A Singular Experience. There are probably few men who have been struck by lightning and have survived to tell the tale. One of them, if there are any others, is William Smith, from Kalgoorlie who is depicted here as he appeared after his extraordinary […]

Search for the lost Diprotodon

Western Mail Perth – 25 April 1908, page 14 In Search of the Diprotodon Expedition to Sullivans Creek by Charles P Conigrave Visitors to the Museum will probably be familiar with the fine skeleton of that great extinct marsupial, Diprotodon Australis, discovered some years ago at Lake Callabonna, in Central Australia. It may not be […]

Yunndaga – ghost town

Yunndaga was originally known as Woolgar: The staff of the Menzies Consolidated Gold Mine 1916- Thomas ELLIS back row far left, Centre back row is Arthur BELDON. A new town has recently been added to the Outback Family History website. Yunndaga, is a small town about 7 km South of Menzies. The above photograph is […]

Murder or Suicide – that is the question.

While conducting extensive research into those buried who are buried in the Cue Cemeteries, John Pritchard came across this unusual story about the death of a man who was among the earliest burials in the most unusual circumstances. BURDETT Robert Ambrose — 43 yrs, d 26 Mar 1894, in Cue WA, he was born in […]

What is a Homestead Lease ???

The Homestead Leases, or more correctly Miners Homestead Leases (MHL), were issued under the mining laws of the time – until the demise of the 1904 Mining Act in 1982. These laws allowed bonafide miners/prospectors who held a Gold Mining Lease (GML) in the area to apply for suitable land (mostly away from their workings) […]