The Asplin Brothers – pioneer profile

From Jo Roelofs:  Jo has very kindly share these wonderful family photo with us.

Asplin Water condenser at Coolgardie c1889-9

Attached are photos of my Great Grandfather Thomas Asplin  with his water condenser at Coolgardie 1898-9. According to Post Office Directory of Coolgardie 1898-99, he had his condenser in Shaw St on the right hand side if travelling from Lefroy St to Moran St.

The above photo of his brother Jack Asplin with the camel team at Day Dawn c1904 and below another in the Murchison c1900s.

The Asplin brothers and their wives were originally from South Australia. Thomas and Elizabeth were married in Broken Hill NSW on the 1st Oct 1890.  I have not been able to find when or how they all came to WA.  Thomas with his wife Elizabeth and two sons born in Broken Hill lived in Coolgardie for approx 2 1/2  yrs 1896 – 1899. They had three more children whilst at Coolgardie including twins Mabel and Roy in Aug of 1896.  Roy died on 6 Aug 1898 and is buried in Coolgardie Cemetery, he has no headstone.

Thomas Asplin

From Coolgardie they moved to Nannup where both brothers remained teamsters for a number of years before both buying properties in the Blackwood area.   Thomas and his family (my great grandparents) established  Rose Valley farm approx 2 miles west of Nannup out past the hospital.  Both are buried in the Nannup cemetery.  In Trove newspapers there are funeral and obituary notices for Thomas.  Pall bearers at his funeral in 1934  included Mr C Barnard MLA and Mr W J Mann MLC members of the Freemasons Lodge performed the last rites under guidance from minister.

I have not done a lot of research into James (aka Jack) he and his wife Elizabeth (yes both brothers married women with the same name) had 10 children.  Family hearsay has it that the brothers fell out several years before Thomas died and the families became estranged.

James Richard Asplin and Elizabeth Asplin nee Harvey, ca.1890

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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