NOTE: Unless stated, all photographs are supplied by Arthur Coopes. Arthur George Shelley (1841-1925) and Mary Clarissa Shelley (nee Walker) (1849-1912) This is the story of the Shelley family, from their time in Kerang, Victoria, through their move to Western Australia during the 1890s t0 the WA Goldfields and the earlier times of their lives […]
The Remarkable Life of William Hall –
07/06/2025 By 2 Comments
William Hall was born on May 17, 1851, in the bustling district of Battersea, near London, the first child of Charles Weavers Hall and Mary Bean. Little is recorded of his early years, but at the age of 25, his life took a dramatic turn when he joined the British Army and set sail for […]
First Draft of Coolgardie Cemetery Records Completed –
03/05/2025 By 1 Comment
First Draft of Coolgardie Cemetery Records Completed – I’m pleased to share that, with the assistance of volunteers for the pre-1896 deaths, I have completed the first draft of a comprehensive review of the burial records for Coolgardie Cemetery from 1894 – the present. This project, nearly two years in the making, marks a significant […]
Builder of Dreams: Sir James Connolly’s Western Australian Legacy
26/04/2025 By Leave a Comment
Sir James Daniel Connolly (1869-1962) By Robin Connolly Sir James Daniel Connolly was born in Queensland, Australia. Drawn as a young man to the newly discovered Coolgardie goldfields, he quickly established himself as a builder and community leader in the late 1890s and early 1900s. He went on to become a well-known state politician in […]
Water, Water Nowhere – and not a drop to drink
29/03/2025 By Leave a Comment
Water was the great leveller. Everyone needed it, young or old, rich or poor. Many a venture has failed through lack of water, and many a life has ended through lack of, or too much of it. In the early gold rush days, it was often safer to drink whiskey than water that could be […]
