From the family records of Grant Waters, with thanks:
In the 1890s (possibly 1894), my Great Great Grandfather, Arundel William Waters, and two of his brothers, Thomas Waters and William Henry Waters shipped their horse teams to Western Australia to chase work (carting) on the expanding goldfields. They were the sons of William Henry and Elizabeth Waters. Initially, (according to Arundel’s eulogy), they landed at Fremantle, and on advice, moved on to Geraldton and then to Mullewa where they got their first loading for the “Star of the East” mine near Cue.
L-R Arthur Benjamin Postle -world sprint Champion and Runner- Sydney Louis Lloyd Waters – J Todd (Trainer) – Far-right Arundel Waters -Leonora WA 1906
At some point, the brothers went their own ways and William Henry, unfortunately, dropped dead on the Sandstone racecourse after a race event in November of 1910. He is buried in the Sandstone Cemetery.
William Henry Waters
Thomas, it appears got out of carting early and apparently was a pioneer of the Bulong area and possibly licensee of the “Bulong Inn” (don’t know when), before moving to Norseman and running the Criterion Hotel. He may have later built a hall next door to the Criterion as well. Thomas passed away at age 55yrs in May of 1917 and is buried in the Kalgoorlie cemetery.
The Criterion Hotel, Norseman c 1899
Kalgoorlie Miner 22 May 1917, page 2
FUNERAL – THE LATE THOMAS WATERS
The funeral of the late Mr. Thomas Waters, licensee of the Criterion Hotel, Norseman, who, at the age of 55 years, died in hospital in Kalgoorlie shortly after midnight on Saturday morning, the funeral took place in the Church of England portion of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery on Sunday afternoon, and was largely attended by representative people. The cortege left the residence of his sister, Mrs. Paterson, at the Surrey Hotel, Boulder road, and at the grave, the Rev. T. H. Barratt read the burial service in a deeply impressive manner in the presence of relatives and many friends of the deceased. The pall-bearers were Messrs. V. Burkett, G. McClelland, D. Fiendberg. C. Keane, W. Eddy, and A. Sheard.
The late Mr. Waters, a native of Kapunda, SA, where his father was a station owner, arrived on the goldfields 21 years ago and was one of the pioneers of Bulong. He afterward went to Norseman, where he became a successful owner of racehorses and licensee of the Criterion Hotel. He leaves a widow and grown-up family of one daughter and eight sons, one of whom, William Stanley Waters, is at the war.
Mrs. J. Manuel, a sister of the deceased, resides in Adelaide, and there is a brother, Mr. Arnold Waters, at Cockburn (Bordergate), SA. When Mr. Waters’ condition became critical in the hospital a telephone message was sent to his wife and she and three sons made all haste to Kalgoorlie by motor car. They met with an accident on the way and had only reached Coolgardie when Mr. Waters expired, at 12.20 a.m.
William Waters Horse Team loaded with boilers for the mines at Lawlers – Carting from Mt Magnet Murchison – 190 miles
Arundel William continued carting and in the early 1900s was joined by my Great Grandfather Sydney Louis Lloyd Waters who was a very athletic type and won a number of running events in the Murchison area, and knew Arthur Postle very well. Sydney attended many sports days and carnivals in the Goldfields and Murchison between 1905 to about 1912, and we have many articles and clipping’s on his sporting achievements. Most worthy of note is this cup he won at Menzies on January 1909, he is pictured with trainer Jack Falconer.
Sydney L L Waters with trainer Jack Falconer.
Cup Menzies 1909
A postcard from the big race at Kalgoorlie between B.R.Day and A.B.Postle in 1907 (see below), I this is I think the second time they met as I think the first time was at Boulder in 1906. I believe they must have spent some time together, (possibly trained together), and kept in touch later as well as I found Postle’s business card in between some old pictures. I have read quite a bit on the big races at Kalgoorlie and Boulder and I think they were pretty big events in the day. As well as the sporting activities, I guess a lot of these meets were social events as well.
Arthur Postle’s Business Card
Postcard – Worlds 1/4 mile Championship Kalgoorlie 1907. Between B R Day and A B Postle – Postle was the winner.
The Waters brothers also had two sisters, one was Elizabeth who joined them in Western Australia and Mrs. J Manuel who lived in Adelaide SA. Elizabeth was born in Julia Creek, near Kapunda SA on 6 Jun 1865. Elizabeth grew up in South Australia, spending time in Broken Hill before marrying James McKillop Patterson in Terowie SA on 26 Jan1884.
The following picture is of Elizabeth with her five sons William, Jack, Walter, Stan, and Norman. The family moved from Broken Hill to Kalgoorlie about the time her three brothers did, but James had an uncle John, who had a catering business (not sure where) on the goldfields, who passed away about 1900. James and Elizabeth took over the business and must have done well, as they moved into the Hotel trade.
Elizabeth Patterson nee Waters with her five sons – William, Jack, Walter, Stan, and Norman.
Thomas Waters and Emma nee CURYER had the following children – Charles born 1884, Arnold born1889, Thomas born 1889, Albert. R born1893, William born 1895, the children born in WA were Gladys Evelyn born Norseman 1897, Harold Edgar born Norseman 1900, Horace born Norseman 1903, Norman born Norseman 1906.
Horace Waters
Grave of Thomas Waters – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – Photo from Grant Waters
Emma Ann Hynes WATERS survived her husband by 24yrs and died on 23 Nov 1941. She is buried in Fremantle Cemetery, WA.
Criterion Hotel Hannan St, Kalgoorlie.
Elizabeth ran the Surrey Hotel on Boulder Road for a few years then in about 1906 she took on the Criterion Hotel in Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie.
Surry Hotel, Boulder Rd, Kalgoorlie
James left at some point, returning to Melbourne where he is buried in the Melbourne general cemetery. Elizabeth left Kalgoorlie (not sure when) and opened a general store in Perth, first in Maylands then in Claremont, later again she also moved to Melbourne, passing away in 1957.
Arundel returned to South Australia in about 1908 and took on the “Border Gate Hotel” in Cockburn (S.A.-N.S.W. border) for a number of years before retiring to Gladstone SA, he passed away in 1940.
If anyone would like to get in touch with Grant you can email him on Grant Waters
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