Builder of Dreams: Sir James Connolly’s Western Australian Legacy

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 […]

The Beel Family’s Legacy: From Bendigo to Kalgoorlie

The following family story has been kindly shared by Bill Potts. Bill’s Great Grandparents were Frederick ‘Fred’ BEEL and Mary Margaret Dorothea ‘Maggie’ nee PERRY. Fred was born in 1871 in Bendigo, Victoria, and was the son of James (Jas) BEEL and Ann, nee SHADBOLT. He came to WA with his brother John to follow […]

Merv Stubbs – Strongman of the Goldfields

Kalgoorlie Miner 25 Sep 1995 Merv Stubbs – Strong Ties with the Goldfields – by Alan Francis Merv Stubbs, aged 70, is sitting back in his weatherboard and tin ‘castle’ and has just poured himself another midi of ‘gold’ and is all set to enjoy ‘Days of our Lives’. This is one of about a […]

A Playground of Death – grave tales

After living in Kalgoorlie-Boulder for many years, and talking to lots of people about what they did as youngsters and what games they played. I was told, that although playing on the slime dumps and near mine shafts was ‘strictly forbidden’, just about everyone did it. If their parents had know what they got up […]

Diggers Justice – by John Marshall

Diggers Justice. In 1894, near Kalgoorlie, a miner named Winter cheated his mate Bull of £80 worth of gold. The chief witness against Winter was a man named Ruse, who told Bull of Winter’s perfidy. This is a true account of the ‘roll up’ which ensued. Winter at first denied having found or sent away […]