The Pioneer Photographer
Published by: Julia Robinson-White on 17 March 2020
www.dustandglare.home.blog

I’m sure that you will agree that we owe a great debt to the early photographers who captured life on the Goldfields that no written version of events could possibly portray. Not only are the family photographs of the people, but a record of important events, public figures, buildings and even just the landscapes of this vast region. I’m sure that many of these pioneer photographers took many photographs on their own behalf, and not because they were paid to do so. There were a number of early photographers, some of whom you may have already heard of, such as Joseph Dwyer, but there were many others who nevertheless operated for a number of years and left behind an irreplaceable legacy, one such is Roy Millar.  I have been fortunate to have been contacted by Julia Robinson, who has kindly given me permission to share with you her family’s story. She has taken on the huge task of trying to gather together a collection of the Roy Millar images.

Arthur Moyle with his wheelbarrow – Image Roy Millar (State Library of Western Australia Collection)

William Roy Millar (1848 – 1942) – On the wall of the study in my childhood home, there was a black and white photographic print showing a man with a bushy beard pushing a wooden wheelbarrow. He always seemed a friendly chap, an adventurous, pioneering relative perhaps. (see above).

We had other black-and-white photos on the walls of our house, and I never queried who he was or why he was there. As I got older and took more interest in photos and stories about my family tree, I learned that this man was indeed a “pioneer”, but he was not a relative of mine. My connection to this image was to the man who took the photograph.  So, I would like to tell you the story of the “Pioneer Photographer”, my great-great-grandfather, William Roy Millar. Known as Roy and Gramp to his grandchildren. My Nanna, Dulcie Elizabeth Roy Millar, was a great one for sharing stories about our family, and she had very fond memories of her Gramp. She described him as ‘a real Gentleman’ with ‘a good sense of humour’, ‘We all loved our Gramp’, she said.

As I scour the internet for facts, documents and other photos that might narrate the life of William Roy Millar, I reflect that maybe it is the recollections of his granddaughter, passed on to her own granddaughter, that might be the most meaningful to him. Here are some other facts and stories I have uncovered about Roy (it turns out he was quite an adventurous fellow).

William Roy Millar (Roy) was born on 27 March 1848 in Cannanore (Now the Kannur district in the state of Kerala) in India to Major General John Millar, of the Madras Infantry, and Maria Millar (nee Robinson). Roy was the fourth-born and youngest son of John and Maria. Their six children (Margaret Caldom, John Charles, George Tomkyns, William Roy, Mary Elizabeth and Annie Penelope) were all born in India during John’s service with the East India Company (later the British Indian Army).

Perhaps Roy developed his sense of adventure as a young boy in India. My Nanna’s story was that he also spent some time in France at school. He certainly didn’t seem to mind travelling to remote places later in his life. John Millar was of Scottish descent, born in Liverpool (his father was a Scottish merchant). Maria, Roy’s mother, was English, born and raised in Yorkshire. Roy spent time in Scotland as a young teenager. His family is listed in the 1861 Scottish Census as residing in St Andrews, Fife. Roy was 13 years old at the time and listed as a scholar, along with all his siblings. His father retired from the Army in December 1861. Presumably, the family did not return to India after this. Another story from my Nanna was that Roy’s family had intended that he join the clergy, and, not liking this idea much, he decided to emigrate. So, on 26 August 1868, when Roy was 20, he embarked from Liverpool, England, on board the ship the Donald McKay. He arrived in Melbourne, Australia, on 18 November 1868.

A Life in Australia

On arrival in 1868, Roy had an uncle, James Haig Millar (1801-1882), already living in Victoria with his wife Penelope. Roy’s older sister, Margaret Caldom Millar (1842-1882), may also have been in Australia by this time, working as an art teacher in Melbourne. In the 1860s, Victoria experienced an economic boom, fuelled by gold and wool, and was known across the globe as “the working man’s paradise”. Workers’ wages were some of the highest in the world due to a huge labour shortage in the state. We know that Roy travelled to Albury (New South Wales), as it is here he married Matilda Boyd (1853-1901) on 8 April 1874. On their marriage certificate, Roy lists his usual place of residence as Melbourne. Matilda lists hers as Chiltern (Regional Victoria).

William and Matilda’s wedding certificate

The newlyweds must have settled near Wangaratta, which is where the first of their six children, Annie Penelope Maria Millar, was born in 1874. Then came James Haig Roy (1876 in Rutherglen – 1903), Blanche Blythe (1878 in Geelong, lived only 9 months), Reginald Blythe Roy (1879 in Geelong – 1938), Ernest George Blythe (1884 in Chiltern – 1967) and Leonard Blythe (1886 in Hawthorn, lived to 1 year). With his work as a photographer (and possibly due to his keen sense of adventure), Roy and his family moved around quite a lot. Over his lifetime in Australia, he is recorded residing at addresses in Tasmania, Wangaratta (Vic), Rutherglen (Vic), Geelong (Vic), Queenscliffe (Vic), Ballarat (Vic), Chiltern (Vic), Hawthorn (Vic), Coolgardie (WA), Kalgoorlie (WA), Leonora (WA) and Ashfield (NSW).

An Itinerant Photographer

Roy’s career as a photographer (based on photographs that exist in public collections today and records of his occupation in electoral rolls or business directories of the day) spans from the 1870s to the 1910s and encompasses the states of Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and WA. Not much is known about Roy’s home life in Victoria in the 1870s-80s. Roy and Matilda experienced the death of two of their children at a very young age, and I imagine this would have caused great distress for the family. Presumably, Roy also travelled for work without his family at times, and this must have been hard on them also. What I do know is that family and family heritage were very important to Roy. Passing on his own family traditions, he gave each of his children middle names that paid homage to his ancestors. ‘Roy’ was his great-grandmother’s maiden name, and ‘Haig’ was his grandmother’s maiden name (both on his father’s side). ‘Blythe’ was from his mother’s side, the maiden name of his grandmother (his mother’s mother). Many of his grandchildren also received these family names. Roy’s sister, Margaret, died in Melbourne in August 1882, followed by his uncle
James just one month later in September 1882. Roy was living in Queenscliffe at the time. Neither Margaret nor James had children (Margaret was unmarried and James was married with no children), and Roy was listed as Executor and Beneficiary in both wills. In 1893, on the death of his father, William Roy printed a death notice;

The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria. Saturday 30 September 1893, page 1.
On the 15th (August), at Bagnere de Bignorre, France, Major-General J Millar, aged 87 years, late of 33rd and 42nd Regiments, Madras Native Infantry, beloved father of W Roy Millar, Fairmount Park, Hawthorn.

By the late 1880s, Roy was living and working in Hawthorn, Melbourne. On the mount of one of his photographs from this time is the address 6 Myrtle Street (possibly his business and home address). Both the State Libraries of Tasmania and South Australia hold images taken locally by William Roy Millar dated 1870-1889.

The Wild West

Most significantly for me and my family, Roy’s work brought him to Western Australia in 1894, to the gold mining town of Coolgardie. According to this news article at the time, his trip west was at the request of some photographer colleagues from Melbourne, Charles Greenham and Laura Evans, who had recently established their business in Perth.

Coolgardie Miner 25 August 1894, page 5  –  W. Roy Millar, working in conjunction with Messrs Greenham and Evans, the well-known photographers of Perth, has commenced operations on the field, and has already taken a large batch of interesting subjects.

and a few weeks later…

Coolgardie Miner 10 October 1894, page 2 – Since his arrival on the field a few weeks back, Mr Roy Millar… has got together a very fine collection of typical goldfield pictures. They embrace bush, mine, town, track and figure subjects, and convey a better idea of Coolgardie and its surroundings and customs than anything of the kind we have yet seen.

Newspaper Advert November 1894

Coolgardie in 1894 was not much more than a tent city, having only been established two years earlier when gold was discovered in the area. Sydney Smith gives a description of Bayley’s Reward (Coolgardie) to The Argus newspaper on his return to Melbourne from a tour of the WA Goldfields;

“roughing it in the fullest sense of the term in the wilds of Western Australia”

‘They have sheep in the township now, and one can always get fresh mutton, although the sheep gradually waste away on the water. Their existence is practically a slow starvation, and they kill them to save their lives. Then we had rice, preserved apples, and jam – all sorts of tinned things. The usual dress consists of a singlet pretty well open down to the waist, moleskin trousers, blucher boots, and either a slouch hat or a straw one. For dress purposes, a Crimean shirt is added. The chief drawback is the impossibility of washing one’s clothes, as water often averages from a shilling to eighteenpence a gallon, and even then can’t always be depended on… What makes this worse is the system of working in gold mining. It is all done by dry blowing, which consists of slowly pouring a dishful of stuff from about the height of the shoulder into another dish on the ground, thus allowing the wind, which is nearly always blowing a gale, to blow the lighter particles away. The whole place is practically one vast dustbin, and there is nearly always a thick fog, caused by thousands of people carrying on this dry-blowing process.’

Coolgardie in 1894 (State Library of Western Australia) – Image Roy Millar

Sydney’s description paints quite a picture of life on the goldfields when Roy first arrived. It would have been a time of living rough, lack of fresh water and fresh food and insufficient medical attention or supplies if you were unlucky to fall sick. The prosperity of the mines in Coolgardie meant that conditions were rapidly improving, however. The town grew so quickly that by 1896 it had its own railway station and, by 1898, it had become Western Australia’s third-largest town after Perth and Fremantle.

Coolgardie, c.1896, Image  Roy Millar (State Library of Western Australia Collection)

Coolgardie boasted sixty shops, twenty-six hotels (with sixteen on Bayley Street), four clubs, three breweries, seven newspapers, six banks, two stock exchanges, twenty-five stockbrokers, four schools, two theatres, many churches, a mosque, a synagogue, a racecourse and, regrettably, two cemeteries with over 1,100 graves with the average age of the deceased as 25 years. With the rest of Australia experiencing a depression during the early 1890s, Roy must have taken this opportunity to establish a new life for his family in Western Australia. Roy’s wife, Matilda, and their children followed him to Coolgardie, and by the late 1890s, he had expanded his photography business across several towns in the Goldfields.

Bayley Street, Coolgardie, c.1898 – Image Roy Millar (State Library of Western Australia Collection)

In an advertisement in the Sun Newspaper in 1899, Roy claims to be the “Pioneer Photographer” with studios based in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie.
Roy’s photographic images, published in many of the local newspapers of the day, tell the reality of life on the Goldfields in the 1890s. Roy himself was present at the opening ceremonies of railway stations, tramways and public swimming pools, attended the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and the festivities around Australia’s Federation, sporting events such as racing and athletics carnivals, balls, church services, protests and funerals – even the aftermath of fires that damaged the townships on a semi-regular basis. He captured streetscapes, landscapes, buildings and mining equipment and many of the people working and living on the Goldfields; miners and prospectors, teamsters and cameleers, clergymen, politicians, policemen, nurses, football teams, families and school children. He also photographed Aboriginal and Muslim groups present in the community.
I am grateful to the digital archives we have today that allow me to look at Roy’s photographs published in newspapers over 120 years ago. There are too many to share here, but a couple of my favourites capture typical scenes of Roy’s world in the Western Australian Goldfields at the turn of the Century.

Collecting everlastings near Leonora, ca.1901, Roy Millar (State Library of Western Australia Collection)

Camel rider and bicycle, Coolgardie c.1895, W. Roy Millar (National Gallery of Australia Collection)

A New Century

1900 was a happy year for the family, with Roy’s eldest child, Annie Penelope Maria Millar, marrying Charles Wright in Boulder in April 1900. One year later, on 4 May 1901, tragedy befell the family; however, when Matilda died suddenly from a burst appendix at the age of 48. The family were living on Brookman Street in Kalgoorlie at the time, and Matilda was buried in Kalgoorlie Cemetery.

The family must have been quite devastated by this event. Roy continued to acknowledge the anniversary of her death with a poem extract by Alfred Lord Tennyson in the local newspaper for several years. By 1903, Roy was living with his eldest son, James, in Leonora. Both men are listed as photographers in the Electoral Roll of this year. Another son, Reginald (Reg), was also working as a photographer in Sir Samuel, a nearby town. Unfortunately, this year saw another family tragedy, the shock death of James.

Grave of Reg and James Millar Leonora Cemetery – Photo Danelle Warnock

Kalgoorlie Western Argus 12 April 1904, p 25 – Profound regret was expressed in Leonora on the receipt of the news of the death of Mr James Haig Roy Millar, at Kookynie on September 16. The deceased was widely known and extremely well-liked on all the northern goldfields. He and his father (Mr Roy Millar) were the first photographers in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. The deceased was particularly well known in Leonora, where he had only recently resided, and a sad feature of his death is found in the fact that he was shortly to be married to a young lady in Leonora.

About a fortnight before death, Mr Millar was forced to seek the aid of Dr Miskin (Kookynie), who subsequently diagnosed his ailment as diphtheria and acute nephritis, to which he succumbed on the 16th at the age of 27. The body was conveyed by train to Leonora on Thursday night, and the funeral was arranged to start from Mr Semken’s at 11 a.m. on Friday, but as the father had to return to Kookynie to attend his son Reg. (who is also dangerously ill with the same complaint as that from which his brother died) the time was altered to 9 am, consequently, a large number of friends were denied the privilege of paying their last respects to deceased. A large number of pedestrians attended the cemetery from the Gwalia. The service was conducted by Rev. Moulton, assisted by Rev. Flemming, who both had known the deceased for a long time. The sympathy of everyone is extended to the father, who only recently buried his wife.

Perhaps as a respite from his difficult few years, Roy travelled to Busselton, Western Australia, in 1904, and a series of his photos from this trip were published in the Kalgoorlie Western Argus Newspaper. By 1906, Reginald had established a stationers/newsagency in Leonora, and Roy was operating the photography business from the same premises. They must have both been doing quite well as, in 1907, Roy acquired some land on Fremantle Road in West Perth (which he owned until at least 1915) and the two of them also funded Ernest, Roy’s youngest son, to travel to California, USA to study Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. In 1908, at the age of 29, Reg married Mabel Lucy Lethlean (May) in Boulder, Western Australia.

Sunday Times 19 July 1908, page 6  – Goldfields Gossip – Reg. Millar, son of Roy Millar, photographer, of Leonora, got married, here t’other day. Think I knew Reg 14 years ago when he was a boy in Knickerbockers, in old Coolgardie. Reg is now in business with his dad at Leonora. The Town Band and all his friends are organising a great “welcome back” to Reg and his blushing bride. 

According to my Nanna, Roy basically moved in with Reg and May on their wedding day. He lived at the back of the Leonora newsagency shop, but he would come to their place for all his meals. Roy found great happiness in his grandchildren. There were 13 children born between 1903 and 1918. For those living in Leonora, he was clearly very dear to them and involved in their lives. My Nanna recalled how he would take her to the pictures (movies) about twice a year, which was a real treat, and how her Gramp had told her

‘One day you won’t have to leave your lounge room to watch the pictures’.

He also had a prized Edison gramophone that he would play for her when she visited his place. The Millar family of Leonora were considered quite well off during this time. Roy and Reg had set up a second newsagency shop in Gwalia and, in 1911, Reg also applied for a Mining Lease at “The North Gwalia”. In this year also Ernest, having returned from university, married his childhood girlfriend, Louisa Elizabeth Barelli (Lil) in Victoria where he was now living. Perhaps Roy attended the wedding.

Millar Family Leonora c1916 with May (nee Lethlean) seated left, Reginald (standing), William Roy (seated right). Children Herbert Reginald (baby), John Blythe, James and Minnie

Retirement

Roy retired from photography around 1916. From this year, he is registered as a ‘newsagent’ on all Electoral Rolls. My Nanna said he lost sight in one eye whilst chopping wood, so perhaps this happened about that time and impacted his ability to work as a photographer. At any rate, in 1916, he was aged 68, a good age for retirement. According to my Nanna, Roy went blind in his other eye in his 80s, caused by cataracts. Such a shame for a man who had relied on his eyesight for his living.

Gwalia Ghost Town & Museum – A fire at the Sons of Gwalia mine in 1921 shut the mine down for three years (the population halved in both Gwalia and Leonora), and caused a major financial downturn and population loss in the Leonora area. Despite this, the Millar family remained relatively well off and, in 1928, Roy and Reg bought a station outside Leonora, introducing sheep. ‘Desdemona’ was about 14kms from Leonora – it was the nearest station to the town – and Reg’s family relocated there in about 1929, also keeping their Leonora residence and the Leonora and Gwalia newsagency businesses. Unfortunately, in the 1930s, their luck changed. These were the years of the Great Depression and the financial hardships (the price of wool), combined with a seven-year drought that withered the land and livestock and Reg’s declining health (he had very severe lung problems), took its toll on the family and ‘knocked the bottom out from us’, as my Nanna put it.

Roy with granddaughter Minnie at Desdemona Station

Roy, who had still been living in Leonora, went to live at Desdemona Station when Reg became very sick. Here, he had his own outhouse, which was separate from the main house. He called this his ‘camp’ – it was ‘Gramp’s Camp’. My Nanna was in her teens by then and had many fond memories of her Gramp living with them at the station. Every Sunday, she said, he would saddle up their horse and sulky and take the grandchildren out for the day, making roads on the property. He always had a mattock (pickaxe) with him. Roy must have been very active even in his later years. My Nanna recounted that in his 80s, he had bought himself a pushbike so he could learn how to ride. He had fallen off, hurt his ankle and was laid up for weeks! Another time, she said he climbed up on the roof of his ‘camp’ to put up wire netting for a creeper to grow on – he was about 85 years old! – Sadly, on 28 October 1938, Roy’s son Reg died at ‘Desdemona’.

The West Australian, Friday 27 October 1939 – Mr Reginald Blythe. Millar, J.P., chairman of the Leonora Road Board for the past 13 years, passed away at his station home, Desdemona, on Friday afternoon. The late Mr Millar, who was about 59 years of age, came to the goldfields in the early days and, with his father, Mr Roy Millar carried on the business of photographers in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie for some years. About 30 years ago he and his father, who is still in good health at 91 years, arrived in Leonora, where the station property known as Desdemona, nine miles from town, was acquired. The late Mr Millar was actively concerned with public affairs throughout his long association with the district and will be much missed.

Reg was buried in the Leonora Cemetery with his brother James. The Station and newsagency business continued to be called ‘Roy Millar & Son’ and was run by Reg’s family until his wife, May, sold them both in the early 1940s during WWII (for much less than they were worth, according to my Nanna). When Reg died, Roy went to live in Perth with his daughter, Annie (in Mount Lawley). He was 92 years old, nearly blind and quite deaf. Sadly, in 1941, Annie also died suddenly, and Roy moved yet again to Sydney, New South Wales, to live with the last of his living children, Ernest (in Ashfield). He never returned to the Goldfields.

After a life full of adventures, across three continents, and having been witness to many extraordinary places, people and events, William Roy Millar passed away on 9 April 1942, and a notice of his death was printed by Ernest’s family in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Sydney Morning Herald, 10 April 1942, page 10 – MILLAR – At a private hospital, Ashfield, William Roy, son of the late General Millar and dear father of Ernest B. Millar, 159 Victoria Street, Ashfield, and grandfather of Dr Millar (Roy), Ernest, and Lily, aged 94 years.  Roy is buried at Rookwood Cemetery, New South Wales.

William Roy Millar (1848 – 1942)
Portrait photo of Roy taken in his 90s
Inscription reads;
“To Bettie, from her affect.
Grandfather Perth Xmas 1939 W Roy Millar.

Lou Henry Hoover was the wife of Herbert Clark Hoover, the 31st president of the United States of America. There has been a great deal written about her husband’s time on the Goldfields of Western Australia, but very little has been told about his wife’s achievements in her own right. During her time as ‘First Lady’ in the USA, she was labelled ‘Dull and Inaccessible’. Nothing could be further from the truth. As a Quaker, she was naturally reserved with others and could be shy.  When her personal papers were released in 1984, she was shown to be a woman of wit, warmth who was well educated and well travelled. She was the first woman to obtain a degree in Geology in the USA at Stanford University in a field that is still male-dominated today. It was during her time at Stanford that she met fellow student Herbert. Herbert Hoover was to arrive on the Goldfields of Western Australia in 1897, aged 23 years, but told everyone he was much older, growing a moustache to fit the part.

Lou Henry Hoover in Kalgoorlie, 1902 – Image SLWA

After moving around in the employ of Bewick Moreing for some time, he felt that he had reached the position where he could offer matrimony, so he cabled Miss Lou Henry, then aged 24 years, to ask her to marry him, and she accepted. She was to keep her maiden name as her middle name throughout her life. He travelled back to the USA, where they were married wearing their travelling clothes in the front parlour of her parents’ house, from where they immediately set off for China. They spent three years there before travelling to the Western Australian Goldfields in 1903.  When arriving, they lived at the manager’s house at 6 Elizabeth Street, Mullingar, a suburb of Kalgoorlie. The house is still here and is appropriately called the ‘White House’, although Hover never owned it.

The White House, 6 Elizabeth Street, Kalgoorlie 2021 -Image M Sharp

On being transferred to Gwalia near Leonora as manager, the ‘Sons of Gwalia’ mine, Herbert Hoover stayed in the homes of various locals and plans were made to build a substantial home. The home that was eventually built is now a historic guest house and is called ‘Hoovers House’, although the Hoovers never lived there, unfortunately.

Lou was to return to England and the USA twice, but little is known about her on her last two visits.  It was during her first time here that she won the approbation of many with her friendly manner and her genuine interest in how the mines worked and the welfare of the workers. She showed a keen interest in going underground to see the workings at a time when it was considered unlucky to have a woman in the mine. She was also a keen photographer, taking and developing her own photographs and loved to drive around in their new car, a French Panhard.  Herbert was so enamoured by his ‘new toy’ he had it shipped to the Goldfields and when not using it himself he would allow his chauffeur, Brade, to enter it into races at “Perkolilli’ (but that’s for another story).

Sons of Gwalia 12-16hp Sporting Model Sunbeam with Brade in driver’s seat – Image SLWA

On their final return to America, Lou tried to find a copy of the very first mining textbook called De Re Metallica.  As she was a linguist, one of the languages she had studied was Latin, so both she and Herbert set about transcribing it into English.  Herbert even went as far as carrying out the experiments in the book to see if they worked. She was to eventually receive great recognition for her part in this work, and the couple was presented with the Mining & Metallurgical Society of America’s gold medal.  The book is still a valuable reference source today. The author’s name, Georg Bauer, whose name in Latin was Georgius Agricola, was given to the residential accommodation at the School of Mines in Kalgoorlie.

Lou Henry Hoover with her sons, Allan (left) and Herbert Jr. in 1908 (Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum)

On her death on the 7th January in 1944, aged 69 years, Henry stipulated that Lou’s personal papers were not to be released until 20 years after his death.

Further reading: –
Book. Daughters of Midas ‘Pioneer Women of the Goldfields’ by Norma King
National First Ladies’ Library – http://bit.ly/1C1ZWRL
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library – https://hoover.archives.gov/hoovers/first-lady-lou-henry-hoover

Some time ago, I was contacted by Terri Watson, who sent me this fascinating story. Is there anyone out there who knows anything about this mystery road? I know nothing about it. This is what Terri told me:-

“We are currently care taking a non-operational mine site along the Old Agnew Rd and over the last couple of weeks have had very heavy rainfall and quite a lot of flooding.”

Attached are a couple of photos I took of a rain/flood-exposed old cobbled road, and I am trying to find out its history. From edging stones and other remnants, it appears that this road ran all the way from Lawlers to Leonora or at least Eight Mile along the “Old Agnew Rd” as it is now known.

We have seen evidence of it at various spots along this road. I was told that it was put down after the war as a sustinence program (to give ‘worthy’ occupation to returned soldiers), but I have also been told that it was put down when Cobb and Co was doing the run from Lawlers, to Poison Creek, Doyles Well and then into Leonora. I was also told that it was only put down in the creek crossings but there is plenty of edging and evidence of it extending well beyond just the creeks. If it did run the full length, it would have been one heck of an undertaking and the cobbles are well placed and the road well built. What do you think???

I am also a bit concerned that with the shire redoing the road to repair it after the floods instead of covering the old cobbles up like they have done in the past, they may get removed, albeit accidentally, because of the amount of work that has to be redone this time around. The cobbled road didn’t appear from nowhere, it is old and so carefully done/placed, that you would think it was in a main street somewhere, not out in the bush – it must have some very interesting stories to tell…like where did the stone come from ( in some sections it doesn’t look locally sourced), who did the actual construction, how long was it in use, who travelled over it, why was it built to that standard out here?

I had thought there may be a mention in the following book, but it’s only indexed by names and not by subject, so a thorough read would be necessary.  The book really only covers the Murchison, but I thought it might make a mention of the building of this road.

The Old Coach Roads to Cue and Beyond- by Alex Palmer

Available from:
Hesperian Press – https://www.hesperianpress.com/
and The Eastern Goldfields Historical Soc – https://www.kalgoorliehistory.org.au/

Truth (Perth) 4 July 1908, page 5

John Brown Cadzow, a saddler carrying on business at the lively little town of Leonora, is a man who has a decided objection to wives going out at night unless accompanied by their husbands, and because Margueretta Cadzow (nee Miechel) held slightly different ideas on the subject, His Honour. Mr. Justice Burnside was called on to hear an application for a divorce on the part of the husband.

The suit was heard at Leonora on Monday, and the residents of Leonora were provided with a dainty little bit of gossip. A gay and festive youth named Matthias Ferdinand REDLING played the part of the co-respondent.  The fair respondent was not represented by counsel, but, following the custom set by her American sisters, she occupied a seat at the solicitor’s table.

THE SADDLER’S STORY

An elocutionist’s portrayal of Lindsay Gordon’s “How We Beat the Favourite” was as nothing compared to Cadzow’s recital of his domestic woes. He was particularly anxious to impress the court with the fact that he was a good tradesman, but judging by the conduct of his better, or, as it proved, his worse, half, neither the curb bits which he stocked nor the harness which he made were strong enough for her. The parties were married in Victoria in 1891, and the petitioner came to

the land of sand, sin and sorrow in 1902.

He left his wife at Tallygaroopna – a name hard enough to drive any soft woman on the rocks. Mrs Cadzow was provided with housekeeping money by her husband, and in April of 1907, they commenced their second honeymoon at Leonora. Everything in the garden was lovely for a time – why shouldn’t it be after five years’ separation – but then the fair Margueretta, who is by no means bad looking, sought fresh fields to conquer. The quiet home life preferred by the saddler began to pall on her, the result being that she adopted the habits of the owls – staying home in the daytime and going out at night. Cadzow objected to

These Naughty Proceedings!

and after a good deal of argument, in which the fair Margueretta more than held her own, the couple agreed to separate. The breaking of the nuptial bonds took place in March, the petitioner agreeing to allow his wife the sum of 25 shillings per week. Margueretta was a very accomplished woman and supplemented the income allowed her by her husband by taking pupils in painting and music, and keeping a registry office. After the separation, Mrs. Cadzow opened a shop, the nature of which was not stated at the time, and she started to frequently visit Gwalia, returning to Leonora by the last tram.

Image Char GPT

 

Cadzow tearfully told the court how he had met his wife and implored her to give up the immoral life she was leading, for the children’s sake. Cadzow told his wife she would only be left in the gutter, but apparently the lady thought this channel as good as any other, for she said she did not care a ‘continental’ what her end was. His appeal having failed, the saddler took to watching his wife’s movements and was amply rewarded with sights and sounds. The pace was solid up to April 4th, but then she rounded the turn, and as heads were turned for home, she galloped.

Accompanied by two friends, Cadzow broke open the door of a sleeping apartment and discovered Margueretta and Redling locked in the arms of “Morpheus”. Explanations naturally were asked for, but Mrs. Cadzow made no bones about being caught, and addressing her husband, remarked: “You are clever, I suppose you are satisfied now.” Then she put on a wrap. Redling, by this time, began to realise that the situation was somewhat hot, and made it hotter by inviting Cadzow to sit down and make himself at home. Not a bad joke at the husband’s expense, but somehow the saddler did not seem to appreciate the humour of the situation, and declined the invitation, hence the proceedings for divorce.

The issue of the marriage were two children, one of them being a boy who is now 18 and earning his living in Victoria, and the other a lad aged 8 years, now residing with the mother. The petitioner asked for the custody of the younger boy. Such was the gist of Cadzow’s story, but under cross-examination, he admitted that he had quite omitted to inform Redling that his lady partner was Mrs. Cadzow, which placed a rather different complexion on affairs.

Corroborative evidence regarding a very interesting little episode, which eventually dissolved the marriage tie between Margueretta and her husband, was given by Peter Donnelly and Robert Gullen. The co-respondent is a prospector carrying on operations at a place known as Wilson’s Patch. While engaged at his work, he was very abstemious, but on coming into town, he met the fair lady and had a few drinks with her. At the tea adjournment, he left his room while he visited Mrs. Cadzow’s shop in order to purchase some fruit. He had had too much to drink and remembered nothing more, not even getting undressed or retiring to bed. On being aroused, he saw Cadzow, but did not notice Mrs. Cadzow in the bed. He did not commit adultery with her. Nor was he aware that the lady was the wife of the saddler or even a married woman. Replying to counsel for the petitioner, Redling said the woman asked him to go into her bedroom and stay all night, for which he was to pay £2. Mrs. Cadzow did not say she was carrying on a branch of the oldest profession in the world, and all he knew was that she kept a shop. He knows more now!

Mrs Cadzow added that it had been her intention to enter into an arrangement with Redling as she heard he had ‘Rich Reef’, and he might help her to live a good life with him. Money speaks all languages, even the language of love. Margueretta said that since she had arrived in Leonora, her husband had tortured her. He had given her no money for clothes, and she was therefore compelled to paint pictures and raffle them in order to get some cash. While in Melbourne she she had been left with her boy for three months without money. She strongly objected to the petitioner having the custody of the boy. His Honour said he considered that the adultery had been proved, and granted a decree nisi returnable in six months.

Owing to the fact that Redling did not know that the respondent was a married woman, costs would not be given against him. His Honour thought the mother was better able to look after the boy than the father, and gave her the custody of the child. Perhaps Redling will now help the woman to ‘lead a good life’ on his “big rich reef” at Wilson’s Patch !!

What happened to the players in this family drama???

CADZOW John Brown – 65 yrs, died 24 Jun 1929, at Leonora Hospital, Occ: Saddler, Cause: Myocarditis, buried Leonora Cemetery.

REDLING Matijes Ferdinand, died 13 Oct 1930, Leonora Hospital, Cause:- Aneurysm of aorta, Occ Blacksmith, Born Hevera Hereng, Sweden, In WA 40yrs, buried Leonora Cemetery.

BROWN Margueretta, she may have returned to Victoria, but it’s not known for sure, I’m sure she found her feet!

John and Margaretta had two children: William Cadzow, died 1926, Sydney, NSW (served in WW1 – trained at Blackboy Hill) and John Phillip Cadzow, died 1951 in New Zealand.

Wilson’s Patch – Bundarra
between Leonora and Leinster

Wilson’s Patch Town Sign – Photo SLWA

Since the construction of the new bitumen road from Leonora to Agnew/Leinster, the approach to Wilson’s Patch has changed. Sixty-four kilometres along this new road from Leonora is the Teutonic Bore mine turn-off, 6km further is a grave on the left-hand side between the road and the fence. The grave is surrounded by a low wooden structure and is hard to miss. This site marks the centre of Wilson’s Patch, with alluvial workings on both sides of the road. To enter the western side, drive back towards Leonora about 1km to a gate. Following the track inside the fence back to the grave, small dry blowing heaps are passed on the way – Mindat

Images of Wilson’s Patch

Outside the Great Western Hotel, Wilson’s Patch – Photo Studia Photos

Wilson’s Patch Gold Mine 1904 – Photo TROVE

Great Western GM Wilson Patch 1905 – Photo TROVE

Government Boring Party Wilson Patch 1904 – Photo TROVE

The Tutonic GM near Wilson’s Patch 1904 — Photo TROVE

There is no gazetted cemetery at Wilson’s Patch, but there are some lonely graves nearby:

ELLITSON/ELLISTON Robert David Leonard ‘Bob’ – d 1 Jan 1906, 34 years, Occ: Prospector, Cause: Committed suicide behind the Great Western Hotel by cutting his throat with a razor. He also gashed his left arm in several places, and he had been drinking. From Tasmania, married to Emily Nightingill in 1896 in Tasmania, 1 son, He is buried on the west side of the main Leonora-Leinster road, 8 km north of Tutonic Bore (name of a nearby windmill) in a place called Bannockburn. His old felt hat and a panning dish were left on the grave. Ref – Western Australian Lonely Graves by Yvonne and Kevin Coate.

Grave of Bob Ellitson – near Wilson Patch – Photo Find a Grave.

Kalgoorlie Miner 5 January 1906, page 5

CRAIG Robert John – d 21 May 1895, 25 years, Cause: Typhoid Fever, buried by his brother Frank CRAIG 200 meters west of the mill at Garden Well, Wilson’s Patch near Wilson’s Creek at Mt Clifford, Father: Edward CRAIG, Mother: Elizabeth SCOTT, Born: in 1870 at Maryborough, Victoria, Single, Reg 956/1895.
Craig was a member of the renowned Barlow Party of Prospectors, one of the most prominent groups since Coolgardie’s early days. Led by Ike Morris, nicknamed “Barlow,” the party included the three Morris brothers with Frank, and Robert Craig.

Robert CRAIG’s grave, Wilson’s Patch – Photo Find a Grave

ELLITSON/ELLISTON Robert David Leonard ‘Bob’ – d 1 Jan 1906, 34 years, Occ: Prospector, Cause: Committed suicide behind the Great Western Hotel by cutting his throat with a razor. He also gashed his left arm in several places, and he had been drinking. From Tasmania, married to Emily Nightingill in 1896 in Tasmania, 1 son. He is buried on the west side of the main Leonora-Leinster road, 8 km north of Tutonic Bore (name of a nearby windmill) in a place called Bannockburn. His old felt hat and a panning dish were left on the grave. Ref – Western Australian Lonely Graves by Yvonne and Kevin Coate.

Grave of Bob Ellitson – near Wilson Patch – Photo Find a Grave.

Kalgoorlie Miner 5 January 1906, page 5

HOWIE James – d 30 Apr 1909, 61 years, at Wilsons Patch, Cause: Accidentalloy drowned in a cage which was lowered into 90 feet of water in the Great Western Gold Mine because he gave the wrong signal to the engine driver above, Father: Hugh William HOWIE, Mother: Jean Muir SMITH, Married to Mary Jane GREENSLADE in 1877 at Penworhtam, South Australia, Child: Olive Mary born 1880, Born: Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland, Reg 17/1909 Mt Margaret.

James HOWIE’s Grave, Wilsons Patch – Photo Find a Grave

NOTE: In recent years, James Howie’s grave was accidentally dug up and then refilled, but a handle from the coffin was left out. It has been placed on a white rock at the head of the grave.

Handle from the coffin of James Howie – Photo Find a Grave.

James Howie – Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette – 4 May 1909, page 2

In recent years, Howie’s grave was accidentally dug up and then refilled, but a handle from the coffin was left out. It has been placed on a white rock at the head of the grave.

Map of Graves at Wilson’s Patch

ISAACS Joan – d 13 Aug 1990, 62 years, buried at Wilsons Patch under a tree 70 km west of Leonora. He body was kept in the morgue at Perth while her husband fought to have permission to bury her in her chosen spot. Father: Michael GARLETT, Mother: Esther. She was the wife of Victor James ISAACS, who was born in Leonora after his mother was sent there as a domestic servant. He spent 11 years as a Bren Gun operator during the Korean War, and when he returned to Wilson’s Patch, he started the Wilja Hostel for Aboriginal people.

When Victor himself died in 2002, aged 67 years, his family appealed the decision of the Aboriginal Lands Trust, which denied him his wish to be buried alongside his wife. The reason was that he was not considered a traditional landowner by the local Koara people. They opposed the burial as the family did not have a traditional connection to the land. Mr Isaacs, an Aboriginal Elder, was eventually buried in the Leonora Cemetery.

A Journey of Resilience
The Story of Joseph and Helen Apró

In 1956, a revolution in Hungary changed the lives of thousands. Among them were my parents, Joseph and Helen Apro, two young professionals who fled their homeland in search of safety and a new beginning. Their journey led them to Australia, where they arrived in 1957 aboard the MS Flaminia, docking at Fremantle. Like many of the 1956 Hungarian revolutionaries, they were highly educated, but in Australia, they had to start anew, working as tradesmen while studying part-time to regain their qualifications. This meant taking written, verbal, and practical exams, all while adapting to a new language and culture.

MS Flaminia c 1958 – Image Bill Apro

Their first stop in Australia was Gwalia, a small gold-mining town in Western Australia, located just next to Leonora. Gwalia was a harsh and remote place, where the houses were made of galvanised sheets and had no windows—windows weren’t needed in the scorching heat of the outback. It was here that my parents began their new life, working hard to build a future for their family. My father, Joseph, worked at the Sons of Gwalia Gold Mine as a Fitter, and I have attached a payslip from his time there as a reminder of his dedication and resilience.

Sons of Gwalia GM, Western Australia – Imager Bill Apro

Tragedy struck when their first child, my older brother, Timothy (Tibor Theodor Apro), passed away as a baby aged 6 months from Pneumonia. He is buried at the Leonora Cemetery, a place that remains a poignant part of our family’s history.

Memorial to Timothy Apro – Find a Grave

Leonora Cemetery – Image Bill Apro

After leaving Gwalia, my parents moved to Bonegilla Migrant Camp in northern Victoria, a temporary home for many post-war migrants. Eventually, they settled in Melbourne, where they finally put down roots and rebuilt their lives.

Bonegilla Migrant Camp – Images Bill Apro

It was in Melbourne that my mother visited a Hungarian doctor, a fellow 1956 revolutionary, who gave her news that would change her life. My mother had been feeling unwell and went to the doctor, who informed her she was pregnant. At first, my mother couldn’t believe it, as this was just nine months after the heartbreaking loss of Timothy on the 30th of August 1959. But on the 30th of May 1960, I was born—a new beginning for our family. The doctor my mother visited in Melbourne was the wife of the doctor who had worked alongside my father in Western Australia, a connection that made the moment even more meaningful.

The story of my parents is not just about their struggles but also about their contributions to shaping Australia. Like many of the 1956 Hungarians, they brought their skills, determination, and resilience to this country, leaving a lasting legacy. Their journey from Gwalia to Bonegilla and finally to Melbourne is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of hope.

For me, the outback has always held a special place in my heart. As soon as I got my driver’s licence, I began exploring the vast, rugged landscapes of Australia. I’ve crossed the Nullarbor, my first stop, Leonora, Western Australia. I made friends in every corner of the country, and even in my career, I’ve had the privilege of travelling through the outback. There’s something about the outback—the adventure, the lifestyle, the culture—that stays with you forever. If you’ve lived in the outback, that feeling becomes a part of you, flowing in your blood for the rest of your life.

Leonora, Western Australia – Image Bill Apro

A journey I’ll never forget! From the rugged beauty of Kalgoorlie, crossing through the historic town of Menzies, to the unforgettable stopover, and finally arriving in Leonora. The vast outback landscapes, the silence, and the sense of adventure will stay with me forever.
I share this story not only to honour my parents but also to highlight the role that the 1956 Hungarian revolutionaries played in shaping Australia’s history. Their courage and determination helped build communities in some of the most remote parts of the country.

Finally, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the caretakers of the Leonora Cemetery, who have preserved the resting place of my brother Timothy and many others who found their final home in the outback. Your care and dedication ensure that their memories live on.

This is a story of resilience, hope, and the enduring connection to the land that has shaped my family and countless others. It is a story that reminds us of the power of new beginnings and the unbreakable bonds we form with the places we call home.

Group Certificate and Pay Slip, Sons of Gwalia Ltd Mine – Images Bill Apro

Copyright © 2025 Bill Apró & Outback Family History. All rights reserved.

Sunday Times Perth – 20 March 1938, page 12

Mrs Stockton, the wife of the officer in charge of the Leonora water supply, was shot by her father-in-law, William ‘Bill’ Stockton, early today. Immediately afterward the 67year-old man walked inside the house and shot himself in the temple. Both were rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but the father-in-law died within an hour. At 8.45 p.m. Mrs. Stockton also died. The shooting- occurred at about 2 p.m. The Stocktons lived in a former shop now used as a private house, and it is next door to a garage conducted by Mr. A. H. Crump.

Ran Screaming Into Street

Apparently, a shot was fired at the young woman inside the house, and she ran screaming into the street with her father-in-law in pursuit. At the front door, two more shots were fired, and she fell bleeding from gaping body wounds, the bullets having evidently lodged in the region of the lungs.

A crowd quickly gathered, and the critically injured woman was picked up and hurried to the hospital. P.C. Jacobs, who was called to the scene, entered the house into which Stockton had disappeared after wounding the woman, and he found him dying from a bullet wound in the temple.

Stockton Great Southern Herald 23 March 1938, page 2

Mrs. Stockton’s child, a lovely little daughter called Laurette, not quite two years old, slept in her cot right through the shooting. She is now being taken care of by relatives. The woman’s husband, who is in charge of the water supply at Leonora, was away from home at the time of the shooting, but the tragic news has since been broken to him.

Eye-Witness Story   “I was crossing the main street when I heard piercing screams as though a woman was in mortal terror.”

Mr. A. H. Crump, garage proprietor, of Leonora, told a graphic eye-witness’ story of the shooting over the long-distance phone last night. “Actually I was crossing towards the shop where the screams were coming from, and I saw Mrs. Stockton in the front doorway. She seemed as though she was trying to get through the front door into the street.

“I heard three shots, and when she fell to the footpath it was obvious that she was very badly wounded. There were three gaping wounds in her chest, and the sight of them almost sickened me. It was no time before there was a crowd around, as it had happened in the main street. Though I had heard her screaming for help, Mrs. Stockton did not say anything, as far as I could hear, after she fell to the footpath. It was a revolver with which she was shot, and the man who shot her apparently went into the house”.

All the Stocktons were well known in the town and were very popular. The old man was known as Bill, and had been working sort of part-time with the water supply, his son being in charge. “I have no theory why she should have been shot or why Bill should have died,” he said.

Daily News Perth 21 March 1938, page 3

STOCKTON William Khundari ‘Kenry’— 67yrs, d 19 Mar 1938, at Leonora Hospital, Cause: Suicide, bullet wound through the head, self—inflicted, he also shot and killed, Lila May Gregory STOCKTON- his daughter-in-law aged 23yrs (Buried at Karrakatta Cem Perth WA), Father: Samuel Henry STOCKTON (Sea Captain), Mother: Francis Mary Cooper CAUSEY, Born: Bombay, India, Married: Mary Caroline FIVEASH in Moonta SA at age 29yrs, Children: Mary Berwick 33yrs, Kenry William 31yrs, Nellie Maud 29yrs, Reg Mt Margaret 10/1938, ANG, Buried Leonora Cemetery.

STOCKTON Lila ‘Lyle’ May Gregory — 22yrs, d 19 Mar 1938, at Leonora Hospital, Cause: From gunshot wounds deliberately inflicted by William H Stockton, Father: Richard Gregory OLDFIELD (Dental Surgeon), Mother: Charlotte Solomen LEUTZ, Born: Bunbury WA, Married to Kenry William STOCKTON in1935 Leonora WA, Child: Laurette STOCKTON born 1936.

No reason was ever given for what occurred that day. Lila’s husband, Kenry William STOCKTON, remarried to Lorri HILLS in Leonora in 1939 and had two more children.

Geraldton Express and Murchison and Yalgoo Goldfields Chronicle 22 January 1897, page 9

A TRAGIC FATALITY AT LAKE WAY

The sad news is just to hand from Lake Way that Jack Tulloch, the well-known and respected partner in Tulloch Willis and Co’s butchery business at Cue, Day Dawn and Leonora, has perished near Lake Way from want of water. The deceased and his partner, James Willis, were travelling with a large mob of sheep. A few strayed away, and the deceased and a native boy went after and found them, and started back for the main road, the boy being sent ahead to return with water, but went direct to the main camp instead.

Coolgardie Pioneer 23 Jan 1897

When Tulloch didn’t arrive Willis left at once with the boy to try and find him, but when he succeeded, he found that he had been dead several days. Where the deceased was found was within four miles of water and the body was surrounded by pools of water from a recent thunderstorm.

Great sympathy and regret are expressed by the deceased’s numerous friends.

Original grave and fencing surround of John Tulloch – Photo SLWA

John Aeneas ‘Jack’ TULLOCH was born in 1861 in Epping, Victoria to Aeneas TULLOCH (1827-1897 – born Scotland)) and Jane nee ROSE (1832-1864). He was a son of his father’s second marriage and was one of thirteen children. He came to Western Australia in 1893 with his half brother, Charles Robert TULLOCH,  who died in Menzies WA on the 9 Nov 1896 and is buried there. John Tulloch was buried at Abercrombie Well in the Shire of Wiluna where he was found. A witness at the burial was Donald Ross. The informant of his death was James Betts Willis, his partner. He was registered as ‘Ted Tulloch’, a drover, who perished in the Bush for want of water.

A bronze plaque will soon mark derelict grave of a pioneer.
From – The Weekend Mail 7 Jan 1956

The grave of a Murchison pioneer who died of thirst along the trail 59 years ago (now 128 years) will soon be marked by a memorial plaque. The pioneer, John Tulloch, was buried where he fell, about 30 miles from Lakeway, now known as Wiluna. Since then his grave has crumbled into disrepair. Well known pasturelist Gordon Gooch came to Perth from his Wandagee Station, 120 miles from Carnarvon, to buy a plaque for the grave. The Lake Way station owner Herbert Lukin will erect a new railing to replace the ant-eaten bush railing around the grave.

Murchison Times & Day Dawn Gazette – 19 Jan 1897

John Tulloch formed Tulloch, Willis & Co, with James Bett WILLIS and William KERR, a butchering business at Cue and Day Dawn, five years later they started business in Leonora. Mr Gooch’s father, George Gooch, was appointed their northwest buyer and the sheep were overlanded from his Wandagee Station to Leonora. On New Year’s Day in 1897 there was little feed around Leonora so it was decided to shepherd the sheep, 5000 wethers, near Lakeway.

Gordon GOOCH – Dalgety’s Review 8 December 1932, page 3

The plan was to take them over in mobs of 1000 as the butchering firm could accommodate them. The first 1000 were successfully overlanded by John Tulloch, James Willis and a native boy. When the second flock reached Lakeway and counting began, it was found that they were 100 short. Tulloch, a fine bushman, offered to go back alone for them but Willis insisted on sending a native stockman with his partner. He argued that a small mob of 100 may break up and be troublesome, so they set out together.

Nor-west cattle on Goldfields Pastures – Tulloch & Co Leonora

The next day the stockman returned with Tulloch’s Horse and told Willis that the boss was bringing the sheep in on foot. This didn’t worry Willis because Tulloch was hardy and often preferred to walk. When he didn’t arrive the next day, a search party was sent out. They found where Tulloch tracks had turned back, but there was no sign of him. A bigger party went out the following day. They found him dead from thirst.

But for the memories of other pioneers John Tulloch would have been forgotten. Soon the sons of these pioneers will ensure that he is remembered. The inscription on the simple bronze plaque reads –

Erected to the memory of John Aeneas ‘Jack’ Tulloch,
a pioneer of Lakeway, who perished from thirst
January the 2nd 1897, age 35 years.
A tribute by his friends.

Note – It is thought that this version of events might not be accurate, as no experienced bushman would ever let his horse go. Locals think he must have been suffering from sunstroke and became delirious, frightening the young native boy enough to make him leave Tulloch, yet too frightened to tell Willis. This is the only explanation that the locals would accept, knowing that Tulloch was such a fine bushman. He died only three miles from water.
Another version is that the native boy was sent Abercrombie well to get water. He reached the well but drank too much water and became ill and was able to was unable to return to Tulloch, who perished within 3 miles of the well.

Ledger with bronze plaques and the remains of the original headstone at Abercrombie Well – Photo Find a Grave – 26°53’05.0″S 120°20’36.0″E

James Bett WILLIS was also from the same town as Tulloch, Whittlesea Victoria.  James was born in 1864 to Abraham WILLIS (1830-1903) and Isabella BAND (1834-1898). He married Louisa WILLIAMS in Perth WA in 1904, the couple had one child, James Thomas WILLIS born Leonora WA in 1911. After Louisa’s death in 1939 he re married to Lillian Beryl McKEOWN in Albany WA in 1942, nine years before his death in 1951 aged 87 years. He is buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth WA.

James Bett WILLIS – Photo TROVE

William KERR  was born in New Zealand and arrived in Western Australia with James Bett WILLIS in 1891. They joined in partnership with John Tulloch. When they extended their butchering business, William stayed behind in Cue to look after their interests there. He later purchased Moorarie Station in the Murchison and Opawa in the Mingenew area. He died in 1938 and is buried  in the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth.

References: Information on James B Willis supplied by Elizabeth Kenny (Granddaughter) – West Australian Lonely Graves by Yvonne and Kevin Coate – Article in the Weekend Main by Owen Harkness – Find a Grave

From the family records of Grant Waters, with thanks:

In the 1890s (possibly 1894), my Great-Great-Grandfather, Arundel William Waters, and two of his brothers, Thomas Waters and William Henry Waters shipped their horse teams to Western Australia to chase work (carting) on the expanding goldfields. They were the sons of William Henry and Elizabeth Waters. Initially, (according to Arundel’s eulogy), they landed at Fremantle, and on advice, moved on to Geraldton and then to Mullewa where they got their first loading for the “Star of the East” mine near Cue.

L-R Arthur Benjamin Postle -world sprint Champion and Runner- Sydney Louis Lloyd Waters – J Todd (Trainer) – Far-right – Arundel Waters -Leonora WA 1906

At some point, the brothers went their own ways and William Henry, unfortunately, dropped dead on the Sandstone racecourse after a race event in November of 1910. He is buried in the Sandstone Cemetery.

William Henry Waters

Thomas, it appears got out of carting early and apparently was a pioneer of the Bulong area and possibly licensee of the “Bulong Inn” (don’t know when), before moving to Norseman and running the Criterion Hotel. He may have later built a hall next door to the Criterion as well. Thomas passed away at age 55 years in May of 1917 and is buried in the Kalgoorlie cemetery.

The Criterion Hotel, Norseman c 1899 – Photo SLWA

Kalgoorlie Miner 22 May 1917, page 2

William Waters Horse Team loaded with boilers for the mines at Lawlers – Carting from Mt Magnet Murchison – 190 miles – Photo Waters family

Arundel William continued carting and in the early 1900s was joined by my Great Grandfather Sydney Louis Lloyd Waters who was a very athletic type and won a number of running events in the Murchison area, and knew Arthur Postle very well. Sydney attended many sports days and carnivals in the Goldfields and Murchison between 1905 to about 1912, and we have many articles and clippings on his sporting achievements. Most worthy of note is this cup he won at Menzies on January 1909, he is pictured with trainer Jack Falconer.

Sydney L L Waters with trainer Jack Falconer.

Cup Menzies 1909

A postcard from the big race at Kalgoorlie between B.R.Day and A.B.Postle in 1907 (see below), I this is I think the second time they met as I think the first time was at Boulder in 1906. I believe they must have spent some time together, (possibly trained together), and kept in touch later as well as I found Postle’s business card in between some old pictures. I have read quite a bit on the big races at Kalgoorlie and Boulder and I think they were pretty big events in the day. As well as the sporting activities, I guess a lot of these meets were social events as well.

Arthur Postle’s Business Card

Postcard – Worlds 1/4 mile Championship Kalgoorlie 1907. Between B R Day and A B Postle – Postle was the winner.- Photo SLWA

The Waters brothers also had two sisters, one was Elizabeth who joined them in Western Australia and Mrs. J Manuel who lived in Adelaide SA. Elizabeth was born in Julia Creek, near Kapunda SA on 6 Jun 1865. Elizabeth grew up in South Australia, spending time in Broken Hill before marrying James McKillop Patterson in Terowie SA on 26 Jan1884.

The following picture is of Elizabeth with her five sons William, Jack, Walter, Stan, and Norman. The family moved from Broken Hill to Kalgoorlie about the time her three brothers did, but James had an uncle John, who had a catering business (not sure where) on the goldfields, who passed away about 1900. James and Elizabeth took over the business and must have done well, as they moved into the Hotel trade.

Elizabeth Patterson nee Waters with her five sons – William, Jack, Walter, Stan, and Norman. – Photo Waters family

Thomas Waters and Emma nee CURYER had the following children – Charles born 1884, Arnold born1889, Thomas born 1889, Albert. R born1893, William born 1895, the children born in WA were Gladys Evelyn born Norseman 1897, Harold Edgar born Norseman 1900, Horace born Norseman 1903, Norman born Norseman 1906.

Horace Waters

Grave of Thomas Waters – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – Photo from Grant Waters

Emma Ann Hynes WATERS survived her husband by 24 years and died on 23 Nov 1941. She is buried in Fremantle Cemetery, WA.

Criterion Hotel Hannan St, Kalgoorlie.

Elizabeth ran the Surrey Hotel on Boulder Road for a few years then in about 1906 she took on the Criterion Hotel in Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie.

Surry Hotel, Boulder Rd, Kalgoorlie

James left at some point, returning to Melbourne where he is buried in the Melbourne general cemetery. Elizabeth left Kalgoorlie (not sure when) and opened a general store in Perth, first in Maylands then in Claremont, later again she also moved to Melbourne, passing away in 1957.

Arundel returned to South Australia in about 1908 and took on the “Border Gate Hotel” in Cockburn (S.A.-N.S.W. border) for a number of years before retiring to Gladstone SA, he passed away in 1940.

If anyone would like to get in touch with Grant you can email him on Grant Waters

John B Ryan was also known as ‘Old Jack’ died near the end of November 1905, it is thought his age was about 60yrs. He was found on Sturt Meadows Station by a boundary rider some distance from Diorite King in the Leonora District.

A prospector boils the billy – Photo SLWA

Jack was an old prospector who was reported as missing. When found six months later it was realised he had perished from thirst in the bush. Jack Ryan was a man whose life was crammed with adventure. He lived on the Little Wonder GM for some years. His skeleton was found by a boundary rider about 18 miles from the Sturt Meadows station homestead sitting under a Mulga Bush. The find was reported to police by the station owner Bill Benstead. The skeleton was fully clothed apart from his hat which was found 20 yards away. He had last been seen only 8 miles from where he was found.

He was born in 1845 in Ballarat VIC and claimed to have remembered the Eureka Stockade. He was involved in every rush that took place in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand. He left ‘The Palmer’ in Queensland and landed in the Kimberley of WA during the first rushes. He battled through the Nor-West and one occasion unearthed 500 oz of gold in less than an hour. From there he travelled to the Eastern Goldfields with his belongings and his dog on a barrow. After trying various fields he pulled up at the Little Wonder GM south of Menzies and there he worked for many years.

Once every week he trundled his barrow to the Diorite Hotel on the Lawlers Road for his weeks’ supply of tucker. He always paid with alluvial gold and managed to have just enough each week to settle his account. Once each year he travelled with his wheelbarrow and his dog into Leonora and as if to avoid observation and the hills, he took the back track. This evidently was to bring about his death. When his dog returned to his camp without him, a diligent search only found his barrow. The dog had one of Jack’s ties around its neck where it must have been tied up by when he left his barrow to seek water. There was no money or papers of any kind on the body and no evidence of foul play. Old Jack would always say to those who asked how he was getting on:

“Oh! a few fly-specks now and then”.

But it was widely believed that the old man had a horde of gold planted somewhere near his camp. His body was not found until 6 months later. Constable Donovan was dispatched to the scene of the gruesome discovery. An inquest was held before Acting Coroner Stuart and a jury and an open verdict was returned, the jury adding that they believed the deceased has perished in the bush. It was thought that the deceased left a widow who lived in Perth WA. His remains were brought into town and buried in the Leonora Cemetery.

Leonora Cemetery – RYAN John B — 60yrs, d between 21 Nov 1905, and 10 Jun 1906, at Diorite King, near Leonora, Occ: Prospector, Cause: Perished for want of water, Verdict of the Coroner, Reg 42/1906 Mt Margaret, RC, Buried Leonora Cemetery.