William John Rea (Ray) Tonkin was born on the 5th Feb 1895 in Bendigo Victoria but came to Kalgoorlie at a young age. He was a blacksmith and farrier by trade. He survived at Gallipoli and through WW1 and died 2nd Dec 1966 and is buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. WJRT was a Gallipoli veteran. […]
Thirst or Treachery? The Tragic Fate of Tom Cantwell
Thomas Cantwell Died of Thirst or Foul Play? The following item appeared in the local paper in Camblin, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, Ireland on the 24th Dec 1895: Perished between Norseman and Coolgardie Western Australia, supposed from thirst, Tom Cantwell (43 years), one of the best fellows who ever pulled off a shirt. Poor Tom was […]
Victor Watts – grave tales
“A Most Unusual Story” This is a strange story about one of the men who are listed on the Eastern Goldfields Miners Memorial Memorial which is located at the WA Museum Kalgoorlie Boulder in Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie. His name is Victor Watts. Several years ago I had a phone call from a homeowner to say […]
Honour Board Boorara/ Waterfall/Golden Ridge – where is it now?
As this is the Centenary of the beginning of WW1, I wonder if anyone knows the location of this honour board. The photo was taken in 1961 at a ceremony to unveil an obelisk at Boorara/Waterfall/Golden Ridge. The honour board, which looks like it was brought out for the ceremony, show the names of the […]
The Kalgoorlie Hotels- Judds Pub
Kalgoorlie Hotel ‘Judds Pub’. Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie. This photo is not one often seen of this well-known local iconic building. Built c 1896 from ‘white stone’, it has remained a going concern ever since. It hasn’t always been called ‘Judds’, it was named as such from James (Judd) Mahony, who gave his nickname to […]