The Legend of ‘Hellfire Jack’

From: The Countryman, 1st Sept 1950 – There was the time that the brokers who were negotiating to purchase the Merton’s Reward Goldmine in 1902 arrived at Menzies by horse drawn buggy at 8pm, after the train for Kalgoorlie had left. It was essential for them to reach Kalgoorlie before midnight when the option on […]

A Faithful Wife, True and Kind !

I was recently sent this photograph of H Cramer and Co, Saddle, Collar and Harness Maker. I was asked to find out a bit more about the business.  I started to search and this sad tale unfolded. In Kalgoorlie in 1901, a young couple married, Margaret Theresa ANGUS and Henry Timothy CRAMER. They moved to […]

Hurrah for Old Coolgardie! – a verse

The Gold Seekers halted at Southern Cross, Western Australia in 1888 and from there the ‘break through’ into the desert was one of the hardest tasks in the history of Australian prospecting. The optimism and courage of the diggers are reflected in ‘Hurrah for Old Coolgardie’! Hurrah! for old Coolgardie, All true men brave and […]

Scandal at Murtagh’s Private School

The following story is about a teacher who went from town to town setting up schools for a short time then leaving under a cloud of suspicion. First in Perth in 1892 then to Kalgoorlie and  Coolgardie then on to Perth again then Bunbury with the same results. However Mr Murtagh was in no way […]

Tragedy at the Vale of Coolgardie

THE FUNERAL  –   An Impressive Ceremony – Kalgoorlie Miner 11th Jan 1906 As anticipated, the funeral was the largest seen here for many years. The procession left the Government Hospital at 4 o’clock, and, headed by the Federal A.M. A. Band — 24 strong — was a most impressive sight when passing up Bayley […]