Update – Coolgardie Cemetery Upgrade project

Cemeteries Page: https://www.outbackfamilyhistory.com.au/records/index.php?category=Friends of Cheltenham and Regional Cemeteries Inc.

We are excited to announce a significant milestone in the ongoing Coolgardie Cemetery Upgrade project. The burial records for the year 1896 have been meticulously compiled, marking a key step in preserving the rich history of the Western Australian Goldfields. This update includes detailed information for each individual buried in Coolgardie Cemetery during 1896, sourced from various records, including death certificates, burial registers, and historical archives.

For each entry, we have strived to include the following details where available:

• Surname

• First Names

• Date of Death or Burial (denoted as ‘d’ death or ‘b’ burial)

• Age

• Occupation

• Cause of Death

• Father

• Mother

• Marital Status (spouse’s name, marriage, when, where).

• Children

• Place of Birth

• Registration Number (preferably local number)

Examples of 1896 Burial Records – Below are some examples of the 1896 burial records, showcasing the level of detail included where possible:

AHERNE Daniel – d 14 Aug 1896, 23 years, at Bayley’s Claim, Coolgardie, Occ: Miner, Cause: Congestion of lungs, Pericarditis, Born: Gippsland VIC, In VIC 21 years, In WA 2 years, Reg: 187/1896 Coolgardie, R/C A41, Buried Coolgardie Cemetery.

BELL Percy Dalrymple – d 25 Jun 1896, 25 years 16 weeks, at Mrs Thurnall’s Private Hospital, Coolgardie, Occ: Clerk, Cause: Typhoid Fever & Heart Failure, Father: George BELL (Auctioneer), Mother: Hannah Maria LILLY, Born: Queensland, In QLD 24 ½ years, In WA 6 months, Single, Reg: 148/1896 Coolgardie, ANG B78, Buried Coolgardie Cemetery.

BOOTH James Reddish – d 7 Jul 1896, 28 years, Occ: Miner, at Coolgardie Hospital, Cause: Fracture at base of skull from falling down mine shaft at the Imperial GM, Widgemoola, Father: James Reddish BOOTH (Farmer), Mother: Mary TURNER, Born: Myers Flat VIC, In VIC 28 years 8 months, In WA 4 months, Married twice – 1st to Victoria Catherine GRADY in 1888, 2nd Elizabeth ANDREWS in 1890, Children: 2nd marriage- Born Victoria – Elizabeth Born 1895 (died aged 6 days) – Elizabeth Reddish born 1896, Reg: 162/1896 Coolgardie, GEN (Bible Christian) A2.20, Buried Coolgardie Cemetery. Mine Death – www.wavmm.com

This compilation represents the completion of the 1896 burial records as part of the broader Coolgardie Cemetery Upgrade project. The next update will cover burials up to the year 1900, and we anticipate releasing it once the records for 1897–1900 are fully researched and verified. This ongoing effort, supported by volunteers and historical archives, aims to create a comprehensive and accessible database of all burials in Coolgardie Cemetery from its establishment in 1894 to the present day.

Some records for 1896 are incomplete, with missing details such as cause of death, family information, or place of birth. If you have additional information, photographs, or documents related to any individuals buried in Coolgardie Cemetery in 1896, please contact Moya Sharp at moyasharp@outbackfamilyhistory.com.au. Your contributions will help enrich these records and preserve the stories of those who shaped the Goldfields.

Photographs of headstones, individuals, and relevant newspaper articles will be incorporated into the final phase of this project. These additions will provide a more vivid and personal connection to the lives commemorated in Coolgardie Cemetery. The draft records are currently available on the Outback Family History website, and we encourage you to explore them.

Thank you for your continued support in preserving the history of the Western Australian Goldfields. Stay tuned for the next update, and please reach out if you can help fill in the gaps for these 1896 burials.