A Nannine Wedding

I just love this photo. It has so many interesting parts. It is of a wedding party in Nannine which is about 35kms south west of Meekatharra. The rather middle-aged bride and groom on their ‘Wedding Camel’ the best man and chief bridesmaid on bicycles each with a bouquet tied to the handlebars. The rest […]

The 1942 Boulder Bombings – By Peter Skehan

BOULDER BOMBINGS” “GHASTLY TRAGEDY” “TERRIBLE SCENES OF SLAUGHTER” “FOURTEEN MURDERED” These are among the headlines which greeted the public after what could be described as this State’s largest multiple murder. The surprising thing about these horrific murders is the fact that they have receded into history without our current generation being aware of this devastating […]

The Publican and The Pig – Coolgardie 1905

  ‘The Sun’ newspaper April 1905 Coolgardie Paddy Murphy ran a ‘Shypoo’ (sly grog) ranch unbeknownst to the authorities. His establishment was always identified by Paddy’s favorite pet pig. Paddy could not read or write nor could his wife Bridget. Their system of accounting didn’t apply the rules of double entry it answered all practical […]

When the Marvel Loch Mine Fell In:

Recently Australia was shocked by the news that two men had lost their lives 500ft down a Broken Hill Mine. At the same time the name of Mazza appeared in the obituary notices of the local press. Probably it bore little significance to any but sorrowing friend and relatives – for few could cast their […]

Harry ‘Tambo’ Taylor – Stockman of the Never Never

On the 19th May 1924, Harry ‘Tambo ’Taylor applied to receive the old-age pension having reached the age of 65yrs. His application was refused as he couldn’t show proof of his age. Harry was born to an aboriginal mother and an Irish father on the Glenalvon Station NSW in 1859. He had his mother’s skin […]