Song of the Pipeline by Alan Ferguson

Song of the Pipeline by Alan Ferguson Way over the desert the daylight is fading The campfires grow bright at the close of the day And over the Darlings, our loved ones are waiting Beyond the Great Ocean, in Ireland far away. Way out in the diggings, the miners are toiling Dry blowing gold in […]

Died of Thirst – a verse

Evening Journal 3 May 1890, page 3 DIED OF THIRST By Ned The midday sun poured down his fiery rays Upon Australia’s burnt and arid plains, And shone on one who now for nigh three days Had suffered thirst, that worst of frightful pains. He staggers on beneath his heavy swag, Heavy from weakness rather […]

Across No Mans Land in Central Australia part 1

Advertiser – Adelaide SA – 31 January 1933, page 10 This is the first of three articles by Mr. Michael Terry, who recently returned from a prospecting expedition in the wilderness near the the Western Australian border. False reports of rain led to serious trouble. By Michael Terry, F.R.G.S., F.R.E.S. It is now 60 years […]

Water, Water Nowhere -and not a drop to drink

Water was the great leveler. Everyone needed it, young or old, rich or poor. Many a venture has failed through lack of it any many a life has ended. It was often safer to drink whiskey than water that could be contaminated. This is typical of the scenes at many mines in WA’s Eastern Goldfields. […]

Charles Cooke Hunt – by Eric Hancock

While relatively unknown, Charles Cooke Hunt played a crucial role in opening up of country east of York and ultimately the eastern goldfields. Hunt was born in England 1833. He joined the Royal Navy acquiring his Masters Certificate in 1859 but was injured and pensioned off. Hunt arrived in WA in early 1863 and completed […]