A Tonsorial Dynasty –

The Mickle family have established a dynasty of Hairdressers (Tonsorial Artists) and tobacconists in Western Australia. Starting in the Murchison and Northern Goldfields the four brothers and a nephew had premises in Menzies, Mt Magnet, Kookynie, Laverton and Wiluna and Meekatharra. They would also open a business in Narrogin in later years. The four sons, […]

Farther Afield – the Gaffney family

The following plaque was photographed in a cemetery in Clunes Victoria by Wendy Broomfield. What a wealth of information on one plaque for the Gaffney family, it even gives the mothers maiden name, MARK, which is rare. Elizabeth GAFFNEY When Elizabeth MARK was born in 1845 in Providence, Rhode Island, USA, her father, Edward, was […]

A Field of Paper Daisies:

I recently received this wonderful photo from a fellow historian who lives in Wales, Alwyn Evans. He tells me: In 1900 Wiluna was hit by massive floods after 28 inches of rain, and all work ceased for some time on the Gwalia Consols mine which George Hall and the Westralian Mines and Finance Agency were […]

Pubs, Gold, Arsenic and Dogs by Julie Aitken

The following interesting story is an excerpt from a family history written by Julie Aitken, and reproduced with her kind permission. Among Barney’s wide circle of acquaintances, colleagues and friends was the owner of a hotel in Wiluna.  In 1934, Barney Anderson accepted a position as Manager of the Commercial Hotel, Wiluna.  Born January 1893 […]

The Story of the Murchison – part 2

Following on from the first part of this tale from earlier in the year: The Story of the Murchison Part 1 Extract from a paper prepared by F Bateson and read to the WA Historical Society on the 25 October 1946. Early in 1895, I (Frederick W Bateson) was offered a position at the Star […]