The Dismal Traders:-

Undertakers, or funeral directors, have been on the Goldfields from the very first days. The occupation of making coffins was usually done by someone with a trade in carpentry and they usually produced other items such as furniture. Coach builders were also often the makers of coffins. Not all of the makers of ‘funeral furniture’ were also funeral directors but many were. For those who died away from a town the coffin was usually made from whatever could be found. There was no regulation on the profession and anyone could claim to carry out funerals.

Donald J Chipper, Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie

The first branch of Donald Chipper’s Funerals outside of the metropolitan area was established in Kalgoorlie in 1895, the first mananger was Mr A E Hunter. I am sure that there would have been others for which there afre no records.

Why is the hearse with scutcheons blazon’d round,
And with the nodding plume of ostrich crown’d?
No; the dead know it not, nor profit gain;
It only serves to prove the living vain.
John Gay

The following is a list of Undertakers in the first 15 years compiled with the assistance of John Pritchard. Many only operated for a short time while others continued for many years. There is only one undertaker in Kalgoorlie today and this business has run continuously since 1897 under the names of A J Kyle, Mannion and Cruse and now Ivan and Frank Vukovich.

Each business is listed as it appeared in the WA Post Office Directories for the first time.

1895
CHIPPER Donald J, Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie
1897

HUMPHREY Charles F, Hunt Street, Coolgardie
KYLE A & J, Cassidy Street , Kalgoorlie
LAUBMANN John,  Coolgardie
LEIGHTON C H,   Mt Magnet
READ Alfred , Hunt St , Coolgardie AD

WA Post Office Directory 1897

REID and ZIMMERMANN,  Coolgardie
SEMKEN Joseph C , Shenton St , Menzies
SHORT John,  Kanowna
WALKER and GREENWOOD,  Bayley St,  Coolgardie
1898
FRASER A J  ,  Lawlers
SHANKS John , Kurawa (Broad Arrow)
TIPPETT Francis , Kurawa (Broad Arrow)
WRIGHTSON Robert , Kurawa (Broad Arrow)

Funeral at Nannine Undertaker not known

1899
DOUGLAS J R ,Menzies
FRASER Colin,  Mt Malcolm
LEHENY & Co (G) , Egan Street ,Kalgoorlie
LITTLE & McINNES,  Cue

WA Post Office Directory 1899

MILES & Co J V ,Brookman Street, Kalgoorlie

The cemetery is an open space among the ruins, covered min winter with violets and daisies. It might make one in love with death to think that one might be buried  in so sweet a place. :    Percy Bysshe Shelly

1900
GOSS T W ,Golconda Street,  Kanowna (In Piesse St, Boulder by 1901)

W Goss, Undertakers, Piesse Street, Boulder

1902
CRUSE & Co John P ,18 Hannan Street,  Kalgoorlie (Later Manion and Cruse)
LAMB & NATT,  Kookynie

1904
WARD C B  Mt Morgans

1905
WALKER Joseph H , Burt Street, Boulder
1907
DAVISON John , Yarri

1910
GREENWOOD Joseph , 28 Burt Street, Boulder (Formerly of Coolgardie)

NEEDHAM & LOWE,  82 Ward Street , Kalgoorlie

There is no profession more indispensable to a community than that of a funeral director. Only those to who he has been of service can appreciate to the fullest extent the intelligence, poise and downright ability that he must have. His calling is one that deserves the upmost respect and confidence.   :   Donald J Chipper

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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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