The Man Who Cheated The Hangman

Leonard Charles Jackson was to be the first man executed in the Fremantle Gaol for murder in 15 years since the execution of the infamous Snowy Rowles in 1932. I was recently contacted by Kevin Matthees who is Leonard’s Great Grandson. He has kindly given me permission to share the story as Leonard was from […]

James “Carbine” Gullan – a Good Fellow all Round

While many of you have enjoyed several verses from the pen of John Terrell on the Outback Family History Blog, many of you will also be familiar with his books on the sporting history of the Goldfields. He recently sent me the following story which I’m sure you will find most interesting. You may think, […]

Archie Spoors – grave tales

Kalgoorlie Miner 6 October 1951, page 6 A REAL PIONEER OF THE GOLDFIELDS The late Mr William Archibald Spoors, whose death occurred in Kalgoorlie on September 15, could well be described as a real pioneer of these goldfields. He was born in 1888 at Kaniva, in Victoria but came to Kalgoorlie as a lad. He […]

Northey and Mullins Families

Back in 2008 I was in correspondence with a lady called Val Skinner. I don’t have an email for her so perhaps she will see this story. She very kindly shared with me her family story of the Northey and Mullins families on the WA Goldfields. She also sent me two wonderful photographs, see below. […]

The Union Brewery Man – the Kaye family

In 1996, (yes, I really  do keep my mail from that long ago ♥), I was in correspondence (by mail of course), with a lady called Helen Saunders from Figtree in NSW. She was asking if I could look into her Grandparent’s time in Kalgoorlie to see what I could find about them. She very […]