Western Mail Perth – 28 January 1937, page 13

Western Mail Perth -19 October 1907, page 16

AN EAST MURCHISON TRAGEDY
THE DEATH OF STEPHEN GRACE – MURDERED BY NATIVES

A telegram was received this afternoon from Constable Walker, who proceeded from Wiluna to bury the body of Stephen Grace, one of Kirkpatrick Bros party of prospectors who was speared through the chest by natives about 200 miles North of Wiluna. Constable Walker states that the body was unrecognisable owing to decomposition.

It now appears that William Phillips, another member of the party, was speared at the same, time as Grace. Phillips, however, remained with the party, and is not dead, as first reported. Grace appears to have left his mates and attempted to reach Wiluna, following the line of the rabbit-proof fence, where he was found by Mr Craig, an inspector of the fence, who reported the matter to the Wiluna police. Constable Walker states that Kirkpatrick forwarded a message of warning to other prospectors to look out for hostile natives in the neighbourhood of Lake Disappointment.

The Kirkpatrick’s and Phillips are now supposed to be in the neighbourhood of Ophthalmia Ranges, 300 miles north of Wiluna. The party consisted of the two brothers Kirkpatrick, W. Phillips, and Stephen Grace. They left Black Range about June last with Government camels to prospect in the neighbourhood of Lake Kabbean. It was anticipated that the party would be absent for six months.

The following statement has been received by Sub-inspector Mitchell from the Nannine police: “Inspector Craig reports that on October 2 he met Grace, in company with Robert George, a boundary rider, at the 500-mile peg. Grace stated that he was a member of Kirkpatrick Bros prospecting party. About the beginning of September they were about 70 miles east of the 638-mile peg.

In the afternoon four natives came to the camp and obtained some food. The natives then left, and at about 2 o’clock on the following morning they returned, accompanied by a number of others, who attacked the party with short stabbing spears. The party was awakened by their dogs and Grace and Phillips were wounded. Phillips, who was not seriously wounded, remained with the party, and Grace was conducted to the rabbit-proof fence and handed over to George. Grace asked to be taken to Nannine, and Mr. Craig started with him. On October 9 they camped at the 380-mile peg. Grace was tired and complained of pain in his side, and was constantly coughing. The only mark was a scar on the ribs. He refused to eat anything and said that his journey was ended. Mr. Craig then sent a message to Wiluna and said

Grace spoke at intervals until midnight he sat up and said, “Why, it is all gold!’ and died half an hour later.

Bernard Colreavy and Stephen Grace – Photo SLWA

Little more is known about Stephen Grace’s life but the eulogies of his contemporaries show him to be staunch of heart, a loyal mate and a man to be relied on in difficulties. A fund was set up to collect money for Stephen’s mother aged 88yrs and sister who were fully dependent on him. £330 was raised, £25 being sent to Mrs Grace in Daylesford Victoria on the 27th Feb 1908 with the balance paid to her at £6 per month. Grace was 50 yrs old.

Why is it ‘All Gold’ were the last words spoken by Stephen Grace, prospector, who was speared by Aboriginal natives in the Lake Nabberoo country and died 50 miles north of Lake Way.

All Gold

All Gold! The death mist gathered round his eyes,
Stilling at last the murd’rous spear wounds pain.
The long slow track, beneath the burning skies, he trod again.

Again, belike, he strained his eager gaze,
Where the grey rocks loomed on the sky-line bold,
And saw them, in the tinging sunsets rays.
All gold -all gold!
All gold! Ere breath had left the crippled clay,
Say, did the fluttering spirit burst its bars
To cleave a path across the Unknown Way,
Athwart the stars?

From where the spinifex and mulga meet
Did dying eyes, all prescient behold
Pearl-gated, jasper-walled, the Shining Street
Of gold – pure gold?

All gold! All gold! Nor ever tongue shall tell,
Nor ever mortal pen shall mark the place.
But chant no requiem, and toll no knell
For Stephen Grace.

What thought he bore the unknown hero’s part,
His be the name to honour and to hold:
Type of the loyal mate, the lion heart-
All gold – all gold.

By well-known Goldfields poet and newspaper editor, Andre Hayward. This verse was thought one of his finest, created at a time of the greatest cultural flowering of the early gold rush days of the 1890’s and destroyed by the insanity of WW1.

Stephen Aloysius Grace, along with Bernard Colreavy, formed the Amalgamated Leaseholders and Prospectors Association in 1904. He was born in Ararat Victoria in 1865 and had four brothers and a sister. In 1899 he travelled to Western Australia with two of his brothers, Michael and John. Before he came to WA, Grace had an auctioneering business in Warracknabeal. Victoria, in 1900 where he was well-known throughout the district. On arrival in Kookynie WA, he set up an auctioneer, stock, share and finance agency. His brother John ran the Victoria Hotel at Niagara and his brother Michael ran a coaching service at Menzies. Both of Michael Grace’s sons, Stephen and Michael, were to die in France in WW1.

NOTE:  The Geraldton Historical Society arranged to re-inter his body in the Wiluna Cemetery in 1976 and marked his grave with a plaque.

Publication:  All Gold, The Death of Stephen Grace by Peter Bridge, Ian Murray, Gail Dreezens and Moya Sharp. This book can be purchased from Hesperian Press: 

All Gold – The Death of Stephen Grace

The place where Stephen Grace died on the Rabbit Proof Fence – Photo Phil Bianchi

The Sun -Kalgoorlie – 3 April 1904, page 6

ALLEN Frederick ‘Fred’ Howard- of Tampa, who, some weeks ago, committed suicide by hanging.  This verse was written by his mate at the Champion Mine, Kookynie and submitted to ‘The Sun’.

THE SUICIDE

Before shuffling off this mortal coil.
Before being covered with the soil,
Just let me here state my case;
So that at my death I’ll leave the trace
Of how a man is buffeted about
In this hard world when his luck is out.

Now fate to me has been unkind,
As by examining my effects, you will find
That they are not of the best —
You’ll not be rewarded for your quest.
I fancy I have been cursed.

Ever since the day my mother nursed
Me on her knee, I do not know
Why misfortune has dogged me so.
And what misfortune missed in me
The drink has finished completely.

The world looks on, and says, “What
A drunkard he is— quite a sot.”
But what care I for their frown,
T’woud take more to break me down.

But what’s the use of living on,
My friends’ good-nature trespassing upon?
Far better, though a coward’s deed,
For me to die, than sow the seed
Of crime, and thereby fall.
Far better, then to say, “Good-bye to all.”

by B.E. at the Champion Mine near Kookynie.

ALLEN Fredrick ‘Fred’ Howard –  d  27 Jan 1904, 24 years, at Tampa WA, Cause: Suicide by Hanging, Verdict of the Coroner, Father: George Kentish ALLEN , Mother: Rhoda MARTIN, Born: Geelong VIC, one of 13 children, Reg: North Coolgardie 10/1904, Buried Kookynie Cemetery.

Fred Allen – Kookynie Cemetery – Plaque by outbackgraves.org

While researching details on the burial of a mining death for the Western Australian Virtual Miners Memorial, I came across the cemetery of Gum Creek. This was a new name for me so I looked into it further, I was also able to add another name to my collection of hotel names.

The Book ‘West Australian Lonely Graves‘ states – the Gum Creek cemetery is located on the Murchison Station at the 309 mile peg on the west side of the Rabbit-Proof Fence, approximately 600 meters from the fence line. Gum Creek was where No 1 and No 2 Rabbit Proof fences met. No 1 stretched 1827 km from Starvation Boat Harbour to the 80-mile beach, (completed in 1907) – No 2 fence stretched 1164km from Point Ann on the south to 30km north of Yalgoo then NE to join No 1 fence at Gum Creek (completed in 1905).

Rabbit Proof Fence – Photo SLWA

The burial took place as follows:

Robert SLOANE — died on the 10th October 1905, he was 59yrs, born c 1846 in Belfast, Ireland he was the son of Robert SLOANE (Hotel Keeper & farmer) and Mary nee FLEMMING. He married Janet Richardson HOPE in Victoria in 1865 and at the time of his death, his children were, Robert  35yrs, Alice 33yrs, Rose 31yrs, Alberta 27yrs, Arthur 25yrs , Lily 20yrs, Walter 16yrs and Elsie 14yrs.
He had lived all his life in Victoria before coming to Western Australia 6 years prior to his death. He was a miner owner who was crushed to death by an fall of earth at the Cardigan North Mine, Gum Creek, Meekatharra, five miles south of the Gum Creek Hotel, a well known watering hole on the Rabbit Proof Fence. At the time of his death his wife was living in St Arnaud, Victoria. The family may have travelled to Western Australia as his wife died in Perth WA in 1926.

Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette 22 December 1906, page 3

Witnesses present at his burial were John Benson and John Augustus Davidson. His death was registered by his oldest son Robert Sloane. The grave is marked by tin nailed to a post, the nail holes were painted while and a cross of white stones was laid on the ground. (this tin marker incorrectly states he died in October 1904).

Grave of Robert SLOANE – Gum Creek Cemetery – Photo Ancestry.com

Robert Slone is buried in solitary splendor as the only burial recorded for this cemetery. In 1999 Roberts granddaughter, Joy Morgan was taken to the grave by Colin Howden of Yarrabubba Station. They had to travel 50kms through Murchison Station country to reach the Gum Creek mine shafts and the isolated grave. They returned to the grave 12 months later and erected a metal frame (as above) around the grave made by Ross Howden, Manager of the Murchison Station.

Kalgoorlie Western Argus 17 December 1912, page 23

Bonzle map showing location of Gum Creek

On 22^nd April 1914, William Alexander Wallace TILLER married Mabel Christine LEIPOLD in the Protestant Hall, Kookynie. The reception was held at the Maybe Gold Mine. William was the son of William TILLER and Anne BEARDMORE (Dec) and was from Victoria. Mabel was the daughter of George Frederick LEIPOLD and Elizabeth THOMPSON and was also from Victoria.

William Alexander Wallace TILLER married Mabel Christine LEIPOLD – Kookynie 22 Apr 1914 – Photo Jenny de Lacy.

At the Protestant Hall in Kookynie a marriage was solemnised between Mabel, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Leipold, of the “Maybe” homestead, Niagara, and Alexander, first son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Tiller, late of Boulder. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Herbert B. Lockyer, of the Presbyterian manse, Leonora. The bride wore a charming dress of cream satin, with guipure lace, and pearl trimmings, the usual wreath, and veil, and carried a bouquet of roses, carnations, and ferns.

It was said this was the last marriage held in Kookynie –

The bride was attended by her sisters, Misses Elizabeth, and Lillian Leipold, who wore white net lace over silk, and white ninon over satin, respectively, both wore brooches, the gifts of the bridegroom. The bridegroom was attended by Mr. George W. Leipold, as best man. The bridegroom’s present to the bride was a handsome gold chain and locket, the bride’s present to the bridegroom being gold sleeve links. A large reception was held at the “Maybe” homestead, the interior of which had been prettily arranged with flowers.

Mr. and Mrs. Leipold received the guests at the entrance, and the wedding breakfast was laid in the dining room. Mr. W. Mills proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom in a happy and well-chosen speech, to which the bridegroom ably responded and at the same time proposed the health of the bridesmaids, to which the Rev. Lockyer responded. The wedding presents were numerous and were laid out on tables for the guests’ inspection. In the evening a dance was held and kept up to a late hour.

The Children of William and Mabel

Violet Minetta born 1915 at Gwalia WA
Jack Leipold born 1915 at Gwalia WA
Edith born and died 1918 at Leonora WA age 5 days.
George William born 1920 at Kalgoorlie WA
Alexander Wallace born 1921 at Menzies WA
Ivan Gordon born 1932 at Kellerberrin WA

William died after a long life on the 23 Aug 1983 in Kellerberrin at the age of 92yrs, WA and Mabel pre deceased him on the 12 Jan 1975 also in Kellerberrin at 80yrs. All of their six children, apart from baby Edith, lived long lives. They are buried together in the Kellerberrin Cemetery as well as two of their sons, Ivan and George and Georges wife Elsie.

Just over a year after the wedding, Mabel’s father, George Frederick Leipold, was killed in a mining accident on the 27 Oct 1915 at the Niagara Gold Mine, Kookynie. He is buried in the Kookynie Cemetery. He was only 51yrs old. His wife Elizabeth re married in 1919 in Kookynie to John Stuart CAIRNS.

Grave of George Frederick Leipold – Kookynie Cemetery – Photo Ancestry.com

George Frederick LEIPOLD and Elizabeth nee THOMPSON – Parents of Mabel – Photo Ancestry.com

Reference: Niagara Kookynie – How it was by Margaret Pusey

Western Mail Perth – 28 January 1937, page 13

The Prologue:  Thomas Farren was born in 1857 in Seascale in the west of England where the Sellafield nuclear power station is today. Mary Elizabeth ‘Polly’ Farren nee Saunders, was born in Birmingham in 1863. They were married in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1879, at which time Mary could not read or write. They lived near Mary’s family for three years and then moved around the eastern states for three more. In 1887 Mary and  Thomas arrived in Bunbury WA with a young family.

In 1888 Thomas purchased the Nugget Hotel near Bulfinch where gold had been discovered the year before. In the last stages of pregnancy, Mary travelled by buggy the long journey to Fremantle to have her baby while Tom stayed behind to run the hotel. On the stroke of midnight on the 21st of October 1890, my grandmother Beatrice was born. By 1892 Mary and Tom were running the Club Hotel at Southern Cross. The family’s whereabouts are not known from then till 1899 when daughter Phyllis was born in a tent in Menzies, then on to Niagara.

Thomas and Mary ‘Polly’ Farren with baby Emily born c 1880 – Emily died soon after the photograph was taken – Photo Jill Peady.

In 1899 Polly and Thomas Farren purchased the Niagara hotel from John Clifford having made their way from Southern Cross where they had owned first the Farren’s Hotel in 1893 and then the Exchange Hotel in 1894. By 1904 Polly had taken over the licence of the Niagara Hotel while Thomas devoted his time to prospecting. At this time all the hotels in the main intersection of Waterfall St and Challenge St in Niagara were licenced by women. She ran the hotel with the help of her seven little girls and a Chinese cook who introduced the girls and the patrons to ping pong for the first time.

Four of the Farren girls L-R: Ethel ‘Dolly’, Clara, Beatrice ‘Beat’ and bertha in front – photo Jill Peady.

My grandmother Beatrice, Polly’s daughter, loved her life in Niagara when home on the holidays. Later on in her teenage years there were many picnic concerts, dances, horse races, athletic meetings, card nights, cricket and football games. In October 1903 when Niagara football club became the premiers the Farren’s put on a dinner for over 50 people to celebrate the occasion. To mark the event a song was published in the Kookynie Advocate.

Niagara State School – 22nd May 1903

Niagara State School – 22nd May 1903 –
Back row: Doll Farren – Nell H – May Grace – Beat Farren – Bill Compton – Teacher Mt Johnson – H Manuel.
Second Row: Connie Hartley – C H  – Phyllis Farren – Edie C – Steve G – Jim R
Front Row: jack Cameron – Bill Bright – Jasper Bright – Ted R – Jim G – Albert Comp – Bertha Farren
Photo Mr Barry Taylor.

Cycling was also very popular in 1904 with many races on the track through Kookynie. My grandmother loved cycle around the breakaways to her favourite picnic spot at Niagara dam, it was here that she dared her sister Claire to cycle over the narrow top wall which she did, not bad in long skirts and petticoats. Beatrice remembered the first time she was aware that years had numbers, was when her mother woke her from bed to celebrate the New Year’s Eve of 1900, the turn of the century.

Mary Farren’s Falls Hotel, Jessop’s Well – Photo Jill Peady

In 1906 Polly took on the licence of the falls hotel at Jessop’s Well, and her daughters went to work in other jobs to support the family. They kept in touch with postcards which told of socials, camel buggy excursions, balls, skating and railway and church picnics and tennis parties. Street brawls, homemade ice cream and gossip. In 1910 the town gazed in amazement at Hayley’s comet when travelling photographers passed through to record it. Grandmother sister Dolly played the piano for all the silent movie films. Despite all the hardships they had many happy times, the last of the carefree days by 1911 when Polly sold the Falls Hotel, which had virtually become an old man’s home. The old prospectors would come in and put a bag of gold on the counter and say look after this for me till it runs out, of course they never turned the old men out, so the hotel ran at a loss. The hotel was finally sold for the price of the tin on the roof. Polly Farren was to die of cancer in 1913 aged 50yrs and is buried in the Kalgoorlie cemetery.

Beatrice received many postcards from her friends as they went away to the 1914-18 war, not many of them however returned. They all had more than their share of tragedy and hardship throughout the wars and in the depression losing children and husbands, however, they also retained their sense of fun they were a hard working family of women who lived good lives and helped their friends and family out when they could. A pot of tea could always be produced at the drop of a hat, I have lovely memories of them all, it seems a shame that they only live on in a few of our hearts and minds today.

Ref:  Niagara – Kookynie’ How it Was’ by Margaret E Pusey

A Wandering Pommy
the story of Dr Dale OBE
“Search Parties Unsuccessful”

The mysterious disappearance of Dr Dale, who has been missing from Kookynie since Saturday last, has caused his friends in Kookynie great uneasiness. It appears that the doctor, who has been practising at Mr M. Schneider’s pharmacy during the past five months, went to Niagara on Saturday morning to attend to a patient, and after having attended to his duties he proceeded to Jessop’s Well. He stopped at the Falls Hotel for some time, and after having had a drink, was observed to cross the railway line at about 3pm in the afternoon.

Dr John Dale by Colin Colahan for the Archibald Prize 1932 – National Archives.

Immediately the matter was reported to the police, Constable Sartori, accompanied by a black tracker, left for Jessop’s Well, when tracks, supposed to be those of the missing man, were picked up and followed along the railway line for six miles in the direction Menzies, but owing to the heavy rains they could not be followed further than the 19-mile, where there is a woodcutters’ camp. The men at the camp stated that they had not observed any strangers in the vicinity recently. The constable then made a detour to the right of the railway line and returned to Niagara at 7.30pm on Monday night, but without striking any fresh tracks. On Tuesday several search parties were organised, but they were unsuccessful. The search was continued yesterday but was again fruitless.

Grave fears for his safety are held.

However, Dr Dale put in an appearance in Kalgoorlie yesterday evening after being missing for five days and was reported to be quite well.

Western Mail Saturday 1 October 1904, page 12

West Australian  Perth  Saturday 7 May 1927, page 11

---

‘A WANDERING POMMY.’

A valedictory presentation to Dr John Dale (Government Medical Officer of Health) who has accepted a post as Medical Officer to the Melbourne- City Council was made at the municipal offices yesterday by the Certificated Health Inspector Association of Western Australia. The president (Mr T. P. Dunne) complained that It was the same sad old tale –  a good man had only to arise in Western Australia to be grabbed with both hands by the Eastern States. Nonetheless, he congratulated Dr Dale on his appointment.
In Melbourne, their guest would find ample scope, provided he was unhampered by red tape. Whenever matters of child welfare or hygiene arose, members of the association would remember Dr Dale, whose lucid and compelling lectures would remain in their minds. Mr Franklyn Higgs, Chief Health Inspector for the Perth City Council, supported the president. Dr Dale was a capable, worthy, and able administrator, and had left his mark on the State.

Dr. Dale Describes Himself

Dr Dale who was received with loud, applause, expressed gratitude for the presentation (a tennis racquet). and greater gratitude for their expressions of goodwill and appreciation. “The racquet is too good for me,” he said. but you and I are not good enough for our great job. No man is good enough for it. What I have done hasn’t scratched the surface of what needs doing for the health of the State. Child welfare, which has been mentioned, is a big field for the attack, and it is very near the heart of everyone engaged in preventive medicine. I owe you, and Western Australia, a very great deal. I came here several years ago, ‘a wandering Pommy’, and was received from the very beginning as a friend. I owe more to this State than it owes to me.
Not everyone can make a hobby of his work, but you and I can. because it is a job that anyone can be proud of. After seven years — the seven happiest years of my life — I claim to be an Australian. Going to Melbourne won’t really be advancement, because there is infinite scope here. I am going largely for the sake of the knowledge I shall acquire. One thing I know: I shall never make better friends there than I have made here.  ‘This was followed by loud applause.

From the Australian Dictionary of Biography by Lindsay Gardiner:
John Dale (1885-1952), medical practitioner, was born on 2 May 1885 at Coleshill, Warwickshire, England, son of James Francis Dale, grocer, and later chemist, and his wife Mary, née Grace. He was educated at Solihull Grammar School and the University of Birmingham, where he graduated M.B., Ch. B in 1908, also taking his M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. Next year he gained his B.Sc. (Public Health) in Birmingham wherein 1911, after a two-year travelling studentship to Germany, he became assistant medical officer of health; he worked mainly in the depressed area of Smethwick. On 9 July 1914, he married Wynifred Mary Evans, a trained Montessori kindergartener. There were four children of the marriage.  Full story

The original newspaper article was sent to me by Eric Chamberlain.

The Mickle family has established a dynasty of Hairdressers (Tonsorial Artists) and tobacconists in Western Australia. Starting in the Murchison and Northern Goldfields of WA, the four brothers and a nephew had premises in Menzies, Mt Magnet, Kookynie, Laverton and Wiluna, and Meekatharra. They would also open a business in Narrogin in later years.

The four sons, John, Henry, William, and David were all born in Mt Plesant, Victoria. The sons of David Mickle and Mary Maria Margaret nee SHAW. A fifth establishment was later opened in Meekatharra by Earlston Bede Mickle, the oldest son of John James Mickle and nephew to the other brothers.

Laverton Mercury 6 June 1903, page 3

David Shaw Mickle, Mt Morgan Fire Brigade

The party whom I wish to bring under this particular heading at present is Mr. David Mickle, hairdresser and tobacconist. David struck, the township in the year of our Lord 1901, and started business in a very humble way in a small hessian humpy somewhere off Murrin street. A very remarkable event happened at Mt Morgans about this time, which David still relates with gathering tears in his optics, and that was the breaking and entering of his establishment by burglars, who took with them when they left the sum of £8 in notes, and the reason they didn’t take any more was that there wasn’t any more to take.
Providence must have looked down with an eye of pity on David because his career ever since has been like that of the Mercury, upward and onward. In short, David has prospered, and he is now the proud possessor of the largest hairdressing saloon (beautifully mirrored and pictured) on the northern fields. David presides over the football association and rules that body with a firm and gentle hand. He is also a great patron of outdoor games, and when he promises a medal or donation he is always as good as his word. In short, to see any sports meeting without its David would be as great an anomaly as to see Mayor Jack Smith walking about without his head. David never gives any imaginary presents, they are always real. Therefore when anyone feels time hanging heavily on his hands let him repair to David’s saloon, where a solo on the flute surely awaits him.

David Shaw Mickle married Jane Charlotte AVERY on the 12th of Jul 1899 in Leichhardt NSW. The couple would go on to have five children: Avery David Morgans born 1900 (7mths who died in 1901) – Agnes Dorothy Maud born 1902 – Olive Mary Catherine born 1904 – Aliza Elizabeth born 1906 and David Rupert James born 1908. All of the children were born in Mt Morgans. Sadly David was declared bankrupt in 1909 and he died on 30 Aug 1912 aged 51. He is buried with his son and first child, Avery, in the Mt Morgans Cemetery.

David and Avery Mickle – Mt Morgans Cemetery – Photo Find a Grave

Menzies –
John James ‘Jack’ Mickle married Lillie Alice Adah nee CLARKE in Menzies WA in 1898. They went on to have nine children: Earlston Bede born, 1899 – Esther Millicent born 1901 – Esme Lillie born 1905 – Eugene John born 1906 – Eustace Herrington born 1908 – Enid Ermine born 1913 – Eileen Adelaide born 1914  – Emile Darcy born 1918 – Eben Edison born 1922. John died in Perth WA at age 68yrs in 1938.

John ‘Jack’ James MICKLE 1869-1938 – Photo Ancestry.com

Kookynie-
Henry “Harry’ Mickle married Emily Hill in Wyalong NSW 1897 in NSW. The couple, like brother John, also had nine children: Doris Elizabeth Irene born 1898 – Alice Mary born 1900 – Eric Henry Mervyn born 1902 – Constance Winifred born 1906 – Harold David George born 1908 – Herbert Roy born 1911 – Emily Lois born 1914 – Elsie Mildred born 1916 – John Oxley born 1917. He died in Ashgrove Queensland in 1941 aged 74yrs.

Henry ‘Harry’ Mickle 1866-1941 – Photo Ancestry,com

Laverton –
William H Mickle married Rose BAILEY in 1894 in Maryborough, Victoria. William and Rose were to have even more children than his brothers, ten over 23 years: Irene Waratah born 1895 – Adela Rose born 1897 – Colin William born 1900 – Douglas Charles born 1901 – Gwendolan Margaret born 1903 – Evelyn Jessie born 1905 – Lawrence David born 1908 – Allan Shaw born 1912 – Kenneth Campbell born 1914 -Lola Mary born 1916 – Roma Patricia born 1918. He died in 1941 in Narrogin WA aged 79 years. He was the brother who lived the longest.

William H Mickle – Photo Ancestry.com

Laverton and Beria Mercury 14 September 1901, page 2

Wiluna & Meekatharra
Earlston Bede Mickle son of John James and Lillie Clark MICKLE- He was the first in the family to venture into ladies’ hairdressing.

Earlston Bede Mickle – Photo Ancestry.com

Magnet Mirror and Murchison Reflector 6 December 1928, page 1

An unusual advertisement was used by all the families at the various establishments at different times and with slight variations.
Miners’ Daily News – Menzies 1 June 1898, page 3

Ida Emily Quantock – Photo – Niagara Kookynie, the Way it was by Margaret Pusey.

Ida was one of five girls from the Quantock family that lived in Kookynie at the turn of the last century. She died at the age of 19 yrs, 10 months on the 12th of May 1908 in the Kookynie Hospital from Typhoid fever. The above photograph was taken not long prior to her death. She was popular in the town and taught music to children. She is buried in the Kookynie Cemetery and has no headstone. She was much loved by all her sisters. The mother of Judy Anderson who provided this photograph said her mother, Dorothy Quantock,  was the last of the sister to die in the 1980s.

Kookynie Press 16 May 1908, page 4

Ida was the daughter of Henry ‘Harry’ James Quantock and Emily Frances Jane nee Whitbread and she was born in St Peter NSW in 1888. Ida was the second eldest of six girls born to Henry and Frances. There were also three boys born but two died in their first year. Their last child, the one surviving boy, Herbert James Quantock was born in 1902. The family arrived in Kookynie in 1904 and Henry set up a billiard saloon. The whole family were very involved in the social life of the town such as balls, Euchre competitions, rifle shooting, billiards, and fancy dress competitions.

Kookynie Press 6 October 1906, page 4

The Girls, all born in NSW

Olive May Quantock born 1896 – married Henry William MAETON in 1909
Ida Emily Quantock born 1888 never married
Vera Gladys Quantock born 1891 married James Patrick Peter WALSH in 1934
Zillah Quantock born 1894 both in NSW. married Phillip Allen RYDER in 1920
Dorothy Quantock born 1896 married John Critchley ALLEN in 1923
Marjory Quantock born 1897 never married

Ref – Niagara & Kookynie, How it Was – by Margaret Pusey