Cecil Albert Francis Herbert ‘Frank’ HUGHES was born on 11th Nov 1861 in Wrexham, North Wales, and educated at Ruabon Grammar School, he was the eldest son of Thomas Edward HUGHES and Mary THOMAS. Frank showed early on that he was of a roving and adventurous disposition. To satisfy his strong desire to go to […]
Robbery Under Arms – by John Marshall
21/11/2020 By Leave a Comment
Robbery Under Arms on the Coolgardie Road In the early days of the Goldfields the escort used to leave Coolgardie every week with parcels of gold varying from £5000 to £50,000 in value. It was a common remark to hear passed by the diggers, who usually gathered to watch the gold being taken out of […]
The Ghosts of Bayley Street – a verse
14/11/2020 By Leave a Comment
Almost a 1000 men under the age of 26 lie buried in the Coolgardie Cemetery. The Ghosts of Bayley Street Last night the occult was in power And as the clocks struck midnight hour With saddened eyes and soundless feet, A thousand ghosts walked Bayley Street Ghosts of men who, joys denying Paved the way, […]
Irish Mining Deaths in WA
31/10/2020 By Leave a Comment
Irish born men killed on Mine Site Accidents in Western Australia. 1892 to Present = 70 men ASHCROFT Thomas – Born Antrim, IRELAND – 27yrs – Died 14 Apr 1898 – at Hands Across the Sea GM, Kunnalling (near Coolgardie), Western Australia. https://www.wavmm.com/listing/thomas/ BARRY Phillip – Born Bauravilla, Cork, Ireland – 56yrs – Died 28 […]
The Water Riots of 1893
24/10/2020 By Leave a Comment
In 1893 in Coolgardie, the refusal of one condenser operator to lower his price provoked an ugly street riot. Every evening men went to the condensers, taking their turn with all the others waiting for a gallon, or sometimes half a gallon, of water, according to the supplies available. For some time, Coolgardie had been […]
