Harold Cocking – a plucky pioneer

Southern Cross Times – Christmas Eve – 24 December 1904, page 25 Harold Cocking A Plucky Pioneer Mr Harold Arundle Sidney Cocking was born at Latchley near Plymouth, Devon, England, and is a typical son of an English yeoman. It is slightly over 13 years since he landed in the West, and was extremely surprised to find that […]

Tommy Talbot – a story by Harry Ware

Albert Jesse ‘Tommy’ Talbot was born on a farm in Holcombe-Rogus, Hawkworthy in Devonshire in England on March the 9th, 1869. His eldest son and eldest daughter were also born on March the 9th, an unusual coincidence. Talbot came to WA in 1887. In 1891 he was working for a farmer at Northam and from […]

A New Town Hall for Southern Cross –

Western Mail – Perth  24 December 1936, page 16 THE PROSPERITY OF SOUTHERN CROSS THE NEW TOWN HALL OPENED SOUTHERN CROSS was in a gala mood last Wednesday. The cause of many arrangements, official and festive, was the opening of a new ornament to the district’s civic architecture, an imposing Town Hall surmounted by a […]

The Gaston’s – a family saga

The Gaston Family By Marjory Burton nee York I was sent some interesting information and photographs on the Gaston family from Marjorie Burton nee York. Her great-grandfather was George Gaston. The Gastons originally came from South Australia and before that from Sussex, England. They were Charles Gaston and his wife Rebecca nee Burfield. Their son […]

Mt Palmer – a grave competition

Search for the Mt Palmer Cemetery and the grave  of John Ebenezer JONES By Mike Duggan Early 1972 – Mr Ken White approached Eric Carnicelli, a member of the Southern Cross Historical Society, to see if Mr White’s grandfather’s grave at Mt Palmer could be located. He offered to pay the Historical Society $150 if […]