Kalgoorlie Miner September 1935, page 4
THE MENZIES DISTRICT – THE EARLY YEARS
Now that the good folk of Menzies are on the eve of celebrating the anniversary of the foundation of their town, it seems appropriate to delve into the past and examine the occasion to be celebrated.
As is the case with the majority of the events of the early ‘1890s, few actually remain with us today, of the stout-hearted little band of pioneering prospectors who laid the foundation of our present-day solid mining centres. Often, too, hearsay is so mingled with actual fact that it is difficult to separate the false from the true, for in those days men were far too busy in accomplishing to spare the time to make records for posterity.
Elliott’s General Emporium, Menzies 1895 – Image TROVE
These celebrations are of particular interest to Mr. Frank Bankier, who, until recently, was for 18 years employed on the Associated Northern mine at Ora Banda. In a reminiscent mood, Mr. Bankier told an interesting story of exploration, prospecting and adventure in the early 90’s,’ wherein the Menzies district figures largely. Before he arrived in Western Australia, Mr. Bankier resided at Charters Towers and Ravenswood, in Queensland, from 1886 to 1888, and attended the London School of Mines from 1888 to 1891.
Completing his course, he was appointed assayer at the Colonial Bank, British Guiana, a position he held until 1894. However, tales of Coolgardie penetrated even to South America, and Mr. Bankier answered the call, arriving in Coolgardie in August 1894. Leaving Coolgardie in September 1894, a party comprising Messrs Frank and Alec Bankier, H. Trouch and an experienced prospector named Renphry set out for Hannans (Kalgoorlie). The party had five camels costing £60 a head, as well as an Afghan driver. Passing through Hannans, then a collection of hessian shanties and tents, the party continued on to White Feather (Kanowna). Here, news had percolated through of a new find at what is now Menzies, and the party decided to make for the spot.
A condenser between Hannans and White Feather supplied water at a shilling a gallon, the total cost of one drink for the camels amounting to £5. Before setting out for the Menzies find, both camels and Afghan, having proved unsatisfactory, were sent back to Coolgardie, and the party proceeded with a spring dray and three horses. Travelling by way of Canegrass, Ninety Mile, thence nine miles across lake country (the first road) and a further five miles to a condenser, run by Moriarty and Johnson, the party arrived at Menzies on October 14, 1894. Frank Walton (a pioneer storekeeper) was passed on the track, bogged in a lake with a spring cart load of goods.
View of Menzies, 1900 – Image SLWA
At this period, Menzies consisted of a tent or two and a hessian shanty and store run by Moriarty and Johnson just below the Lady Shenton dump, and the total population did not exceed a dozen men. Each party had its own condenser on the lake, nine miles out on the Mt. Ida road and in a month or two, the shores of the lake looked like a miniature township.
Mr. Bankier is emphatic that all the credit for the discovery of Menzies should not be given to Bob Menzies.
Frank Bankier said: I know that three men, Brown, Kirby and Jackman, were the pioneers of what was later called the Menzies field. The Lady Shenton was found in August 1894, and my brother and I reached the find about 14 days after the discovery. We there met Brown, Kirby and Jackman, who were working a lease they had named the ‘Pioneer’ and had been there for some three months. Brown had had to go into Coolgardie for stores somewhere in July, and there met Menzies, whom he knew and told him he was on a bit of good country and gave him directions how to reach it. Menzies duly followed and, looking for Brown’s camp, got a mile too far north. His native boy, whilst fossicking about, picked up some rich floaters on the cap of what was subsequently to become the Lady Shenton Mine. Instead of looking for Brown’s camp any more and letting him in on the discovery, as one would expect a man to do, he made straight back to Coolgardie, and in future ignored Brown and his mates entirely. Brown, Kirby and Jackman were typical, straight-forward Aussies, and the facts spoke for themselves— as for Bob Menzies (I will not speak ill of the dead). My brother and I eventually bought Brown’s share in the Pioneer.
Such was the actual beginning of the town, which will celebrate its 41st birthday on October 2 next.
Today, few of the original pioneers are with us and much that occurred in ’94 and ’95 is well-nigh forgotten, hence the interest of Mr. Bankier’s reminiscences How many of the present-day residents of Menzies are aware that an Englishman named Frederick S F DEVAS brought up the original White House Hotel (not the present-day structure) in sections on Indian camels from Fremantle? A wooden structure, it was brought up and erected by its owner’s own hands, subsequently being whitewashed and thus earning its name owing to its contrast with the primitive type of dwelling that then comprised the town. Unfortunately, the owner’s death was amongst the first of those recorded in the new town in 1896. Early medicos of the town were Dr. Duncan and Dr. Cave-Brown, whilst the present Resident Magistrate at Albany, Mr. E. Y. Butler, was a clerk in the first Local Court office.
The original ‘White House Hotel’ Menzie 1898 – Image TROVE
Having pegged some blocks, Alec Bankier’s party worked in the locality until January 1895, when news came through of a new find by Northmore and Doolette, about 30 miles to the north-east. Leaving his brother Frank to look after his Menzies interests, Mr. Bankier set out for the new find with pack horses, but not being impressed with the prospects of the place— Niagara —went on a further 10 miles to Dingo Creek, now known as Tampa. He remained at Dingo Creek until May 1896, and, during this period, sold two shows, only missing pegging Harry Blevin’s—afterwards sold for £20,000 —by half an hour.
Following a period in New Zealand and Laverton, in 1902, Mr. Bankier went to the Warburton Ranges in company with Carr Boyd, Bill Baker and Rody Schwann. The party had a bad time on account of a shortage of water, but the following year, in company with Carr Boyd and George Drinkwater, a much more successful expedition resulted. The season was a splendid one, and the party was away for eight months; two months being spent in the Warburton and Rawlinson country. No sign of gold was found east of Mt. Shenton, about 25 miles east of Cosmo-Newbury.
Thus, from a prospecting point of view, the results were disappointing. Subsequent tales of aggressive natives in the locality, Mr. Bankier believes to be unfounded. He states that it took his party a long time to make friends with them, but before leaving the locality, they were on excellent terms, some even accompanying the party some 20 miles on the return journey.
Frank Bankier was to die in Menzies on 29 June 1905, aged 48 years, from Consumption & Phthisis. A third brother, Fred Bankier, had only just joined them in Menzies. Since those days Mr. Bankier has resided at Menzies, Ora Banda and Broad Arrow, and though still hale and hearty, looks back to the days when the urge of gold carried the pioneers ever onward, on foot, or horseback, by camel or spring cart, with shaker or bicycle, in search of the elusive precious metal, and when he, too, took part in the privations of the
trials and triumphs of “the men of the outside track.”
Long may he be spared and may the evening of his life be packed with happy reminiscences. Let us all hope that when the old town celebrates, Frank will be among the honoured guests. Frank Bankier passed away suddenly, eight years later and was found dead in his bed in the Grand Hotel, Kalgoorlie in November 1943. He was aged 75 years and is buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery with no headstone.
The Bankier Brothers
Alexander Dunn ‘Alec’ BANKIER (Born 1856) and Frank McIndoe BANKIER (Born 1868) in Glasgow, Scotland, to a well-known Merchant to William Henry Dennistoun BANKIER and Agnes, nee McINDOE. The two brothers travelled to Australia in 1880 aboard the ‘John Elder’. None of the brothers ever married. Alec returned briefly to Scotland in 1895 after the death of his mother. A third brother, Frederick Walter ‘Fred’ BANKIER, joined Alec in Menzies in 1905 just before Alec’s death. Two sisters, Caroline and Jessie, remained in Glasgow. Fred died in California, USA, at an unknown date.
Alec is buried in the Menzies Cemetery:
Day Dawn Chronicle 1 July 1905, page 3
Alec Bankier – Menzies Cemetery – Photo Find a Grave
Frank is buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery.
Frank Bankier – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – Photo Danelle Warnock
Moya Sharp
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I loved reading this. Thank you so much. I’m trying to track his whole families moved across Australia back then. My family settled in Kalgoorlie with my great grandfather being a carriage maker or similar. My grandfather was born in Coolgardie as nd I have been led to believe that my great grandmother Eliza Hughes was the first woman to wheel a pram into Coolgardie. I can find no records to match this and wondered if you have heard of this.
Hi Shelly What are the namers of your relatives and I may be able to find some more details. Glad you like the story.😊
Hi Moya,
thanks for that interesting story.
As you may know, my mothers family, the Pianto’s were from Menzies, but I never knew that piece of history.
I’ll may be able to share that at my gigs when I talk and sing about Menzies.
Thank you
John Callaghan
Hi John Not sure if I mentioned it before but my husband is related to the Pianto’s as well.