Where Was Smithfield? – ghost town

Smithfield Western Australia 30.49648° or 30° 29′ 47″ south – 121.382° or 121° 22′ 55″ east A small settlement halfway between Kalgoorlie and Bardoc. Not gazetted, the nearest towns were Paddington and Broad Arrow. It was a popular picnic spot for many years as well as a mining area.

Broad Arrow Cemetery – Kurawah

For some time I have been working on my database of burials at the Broad Arrow Cemetery. My final total as of now, is 191 burials with 18 headstones (this is never set in stone and can change if new details come to light). Every cemetery provides a snapshot of the community at the time, […]

George August Dux – pioneer profile

The following story was sent to me by the President of the East Gippsland Family History Group, Debbie Squires,  about one of their ‘locals’ who came west! “G.A.D.” has left an entertaining (and informative) description of Bairnsdale and districts in his writings – but who was he? There are a few clues in the narrative. […]

The O’Dwyer Wager –

Coolgardie Mining Review 27 June 1896, page 5 The O’Dwyer Boys By A. G. HALES (“Smiler”) and JACK DRAYTON. About a quarter of a mile from the Hill End mine in one of the deepest gullies amongst the ranges thirteen men were grouped around a roaring fire. These men were the O’Dwyer Brothers, and you […]

Liquid Gold – The Elliott Brothers Breweries

Tom and Bill Elliott came to Western Australia in 1893 and moved immediately to the Goldfields where they began a business as cartage contractors. After two years, in 1895, Tom built a cordial factory near the Kalgoorlie rail line and also the Federal Brewery in Kalgoorlie for F W Whitfield. In 1898 he was to […]