Yunndaga was originally known as Woolgar:
The staff of the Menzies Consolidated Gold Mine 1916-
Thomas ELLIS back row far left, Centre back row is Arthur BELDON.
Menzies Consolidated GM, Woolgar – Western Argus 3 December 1901, page 26
A new town has recently been added to the Outback Family History website. Yunndaga, is a small town about 7 km South of Menzies. The above photograph is of the staff of the Menzies Consolidated Gold Mine 1916, taken when the town was called Woolgar.
YUNNDAGA from:- Landgate –
Latitude 29° 45′ S Longitude 121° 03′ E
Yunndaga is an abandoned Western Australian goldfields townsite located 718 km east northeast of Perth and 7 km south of Menzies. Gold was discovered in the area in the mid-1890s, and in 1898 a business and residence subdivision was laid out, at what was then referred to as Woolgar. Business and residence subdivisions were very temporary and gave no secure tenure to the inhabitants.
Yunndaga Street Map – 1908 – Image SLWA
By 1904 there was a feeling of permanency about Woolgar, and the mining warden advised it was time to gazette the place as a townsite. As there was already a place in Queensland with this name, an alternative name was required, and the mining warden made three suggestions, one of which was Yunndagar. The Department of Lands and Surveys then applied spelling rules it had adopted for Aboriginal names, and the townsite of Yunndaga was gazetted in March 1904.
Bonzle Map – Location of Yunndaga
Studio group portrait of 2402 Private Pte Henry Alexander Spalholtz, of Yunndaga, WA, left seated an and 2387 Pte John William Reilly of Woolgar, unidentified soldier centre standing, holding a piece of rope tied to a toy dog- Photo SLWA & AWM – Photo Ancestry.com
Henry Alexander ‘Alik’ Spalholtz was the son of Bernard Henry Martin Spalholtz and Matilda Rooke. Bernard died in Woolgar on the 13th of June 1918 only eight months after hearing of his sons Henry’s death in Belgium when he was killed in action aged 19yrs. He was a storekeeper in Woolgar for many years and is buried in the Menizes Cemetery.
Harry Spalholtz and Matilda nee Rooke – parents of Henry Spalholtz – Photo Ancestry.com
John William Reilly was the son of Thomas Edwin Reilly and Mary Josephine Smith, he was from Bendigo Victoria, and his occupation before enlistment was a miner. This was perhaps how he came to be in Yunndaga. He married Eleanore ‘Nellie’ Richardson in Kalgoorlie in 1914 and died in Perth WA in 1973.
Scenes of Yunndaga – Photo SLWA
Drilling at Woolgar – Sunday Times 21 June 1936, page 16
Leave a Tip!
If you would like to support my work sharing stories of the Western Australian Goldfields, a small tip – starting at just $2 – would mean a great deal. You're welcome to give more if you feel inclined.
Every contribution, no matter the amount, helps me continue researching and preserving these important stories for future generations. Your generosity supports the ongoing costs of running the website. Thank you so much.
Visit our Why Donate page for more information and to make a donation.
Moya Sharp
Leave a Reply