by Maxine and Pat Callahan

Parker (Parker’s) Range WA Goldfields
31° 37′ 58” South , 119° 35′ 6” East

Map by Bonzel

Parker Range was named after William Mercer PARKER. William who was the son of Stephen PARKER and Susanna WYBORN, was born in Lyminge, Kent England on 17 Aug 1821. The Parker family, who were part of the ill-fated Peel experiment, arrived at the Swan River Colony on the Hooghly on 13 February 1830.

William’s biography in the Western Mail, 9 March 1910, says, ‘In Mr. W. M. Parker, the uncle of the Chief Justice (Sir Henry Parker), there died at York on Tuesday at the age of 88 years one who had had a varied and extensive experience of the early life of the colonies.

The deceased came out with his parents in 1830. While in later years he was most intimately connected with the town of York, he was, prior to this association, settled in different other parts of the State, and he likewise spent a number of years in New Zealand. At Oakabella, in the Geraldton district, Mr. Parker was engaged in sheep farming for some years in partnership with the late Mr. James Drummond. Then came his sojourn in New Zealand. Returning to Western Australia he again took up sheep farming, this time at Mount Stirling. While there he went prospecting and located Parker’s Range. This was about the year 1890, before Kalgoorlie had been discovered, but after gold had been found at Southern Cross.

The deceased, on leaving Mount Stirling settled at York, where he had since resided. He was the youngest son, and is survived by a sister, Mrs. John Sewell, of Pingelly, who is now about 91 years of age. He had no family, and his wife predeceased him a few years ago in York WA in 1907. The deceased, while taking no active part in public affairs, yet took in a number of questions the warmest interest, and he was a keen controversialist. To the open columns of the public press, he was a frequent contributor. Mr. Parker, despite his advanced years, retained good eyesight and memory and his accustomed activity up to a short time before his death.’

William Mercer PARKER and his wife Sarah nee SEWELL – Photo Ancestry.com

Western Mail 22 September 1888, page 19

TO THE EDITOR – There is nothing worse, perhaps, than the truth falsely told, and in your account of the new gold discovery it is said that a small party of prospectors headed by Mr. W. M. Parker, went out recently to examine the Yilgarn country, which ie not correct. Taking two serrants with him, Mr. Parker went out unassisted by any “party,” and trusting to his individual knowledge of much of the far eastward country, he discovered that which perhaps will in all probability prove to be the El Derado of Western Australia.

One of Mr. Parker’s servants, a native, who claimed the spot as his birthplace, and who therefore proved to be an invaluable guide in procuring water. When the old man was shown a piece of slate, he told Mr. Parker that he could show him a mountain of that, and so he did, but not situated “thirty miles to the southward of Southern Cross,” as stated in your last Friday’s paper.

If Parker’s slate range should turn out to be the trump card of our gold games, the necessity for boring machines being sent out East, will become more apparent every day. I speak in the plural because one machine could not possibly supply so many fields, scattered as they are over such an immense area of country. It is to be hoped that the Legislature will see the necessity of providing water, without which the Gold Fields cannot be worked. Water and crushing machines, a telegraph line and a railway, are now only wanted to make the Eastward country a second Ballarat and Bendigo.  –   Yours  OBSERVER.

William M PARKER – 1908 taken two years before his death – Photo Ancestry.com

After William discovered gold in 1888, the area was called Parker’s Range and a number of leases were taken out. Parker formed the Parker Range Company, and shortly after developed a mine on the reef. In 1891 it was described as two leases totalling 24 acres, employing 24 men, on two ironstone capped reefs. Mine maps located the mine less than 100 metres north-west of the Marvel Loch-Forrestania and Parker’s Range Roads intersections.

Australian Advertiser 23 November 1892, page 2

There are a number of minor historic workings in the immediate area, and this is only a rough indication of its location. The find was recorded in the West Australian, 18 September 1888 as shown. The original Wogalin Track to Parker Range, ran from Pingelly to the Range. It was named Wogalin, after George Walton’s property at Mourumbine (East Pingelly), which is where it headed off into the unknown. The local blacksmith George Holyoake was the first cartage contractor and caretaker of the track. George described the access as

‘nearest and only permanently watered route, to the Yilgarn Goldfields’

Burials at Parkers Range
HUDSON Henry age 34yrs died 12 Jun 1893 – buried at Parker’s Range, Reg 482/1893
MILLER stillborn male  – d 5 Jul 1896, Mother: Clara Isabella MILLER, buried at Parker’s Range, Reg 2042/1896
MILLER stillborn child – d 1896, buried at Parkers Find, Mother: Martha MILLER,
O’CALLAGHAN James age 45yrs died June 1890 -buried at Parkers Range.

Collins Family in York WA – Seated: William & Elda Collins holding Ronia, Back row David, Reuben, Murray, Cecil, Front seated: Cedric, Stanley, Raymond

Cecil Thomas Collins was born in York WA on the 16th November 1903. He was the oldest son of William Thomas James Collins and Elda Ellen nee Reynolds. He was the oldest child of seven boys and one girl.

Cecil Thomas Collins – Photo Ancestry.com

Cecil married Eileen Henrietta nee Edwards who was also born in York WA where they married in 1925 on the 2nd December 1903. The couple had the following children – William George Collins born 1926, Owen Collins born 1928, Neville Collins born 1929, Kevin Collins was born 1933. There was daughter in 1940, but her name is not known and a son,Clyde Edward Collins.

The family didn’t settle in Kalgoorlie until the end of WW2 where they first lived at 58 Dugan Street, Kalgoorlie. They lived at various addresses in Kalgoorlie until their final address at 139 Cheetham Street, Kalgoorlie. During his time in Kalgoorlie and in other places in WA Cecil worked for the WA Railways in various capacities.He is buried in the Methodist section of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. Eileen survived him by 26yrs and died aged 90yrs. She is also buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery but in the Roman Catholic section.

Cecil Thomas Collins Kalgoorlie Cemetery – Photos Danelle Warnock

Eileen Henrietta Collins – Photo Ancestry.com

Heather Harvey sent me the following engagement notice for Doreen Collins, the only daughter of Cecil and Eileen Collins. Doreen is also buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery.

Wagin Argus and Arthur, Dumbleyung, Lake Grace Express 6 July 1944, page 3