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City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder History and Heritage

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25.01.2022 Ask a Curator Day! What was the first museum you visited? The first museum I visited, was the museum in Launceston, Tasmania, The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. I can’t remember at what age, but it was the coolest place ever!... They have a Planetarium were you got told the stories about the stars. Also a place that still fascinates me is the Guan Di Temple, which is a permanent display. I still find Chinese history very interesting. We lived in a part of Tasmania with a lot of Chinese history. We as a family would go out bottle hunting at old Chinese settlements and find ginger jars and tea kettles. There are also in the collection remains of Tasmanian Tigers and other native animals all tell a story about Tasmania. Anywhere I go in the world, the first places I visit are museums, as they tell a lot about the community and its place. The objects you see are so interesting, and the stories they tell teach me more about the society. Even special exhibitions; I will travel across the country to see. #askacurator

25.01.2022 Looking for something to do with family and friends on Sunday morning? Sunday, 20th September is Boulder Market Day and the Boulder Town Hall, including the Goldfields War Museum, will be open from 10:00am - 12noon. Join us at 10:30am for a free guided tour of the Boulder Town Hall! Bathe yourself in the awesome atmosphere and history of the town hall and Burt Street.... See posters for more details

25.01.2022 Descendants of distinguished Kalgoorlie doctor and soldier George Barber have recently completed work on a biography of his very interesting life. The Goldfields War Museum was honoured to have contributed information and photographs to this most worthy project. An exceptional medical officer during World War I, George Walter Barber had a wayfaring early life. As a teenager he worked as a merchant marine on a clipper serving the England Australia route. He went on to study ...medicine and after graduating became a P&O ship doctor sailing the England-India-China route. He met his wife Jess on his final voyage, and they moved to the Kalgoorlie goldfields at the commencement of the goldrush. At the outbreak of the war he was mobilised to assess the fitness of Western Australian recruits. In 1916 he became Assistant Director Medical Services of the 4th Australian Division and in 1918 was appointed Deputy Director Medical Services, Australian Corps. He ran a venereal disease hospital in Egypt and served on a number of gruesome hospital ships during the Gallipoli campaign. As DDMS he was in charge of medical administration for the Australian troops in France and through his Standing Orders enacted a number of significant innovations which reflected the shift towards mobile warfare. He then went on to become Director General Medical Services in Australia after the war (1925-1934). The book can be purchased from the author, Simon Doyle by emailing: [email protected] Image courtesy of the Goldfields War Museum

23.01.2022 Great News! The Kalgoorlie Town Hall tours will be resuming on Monday, 3rd August! Enjoy a fascinating, fact filled tour to learn more about, Paddy Hannan, C. Y. O'Connor, past Mayors and the building of the Kalgoorlie Town Hall. Be wowed by the Council Chamber and dress circle.... Tour commences at 10:30am from the Visitor Centre and cost $5 per person. See poster below for details

22.01.2022 Another question for the Goldfields War Museum: What’s the weirdest object in Goldfield War Museum collection? The museum has a tin of powdered egg (and some other food rations) left over from the Second World War. Thankfully the tin is fully sealed, don’t like to think about what 75 year old powdered egg would smell like!... Do you have any questions you'd to ask our curator? #askacurator

20.01.2022 Ask a Curator: Is your museum haunted? YES! In May 2016, ghost hunters visited Kalgoorlie-Boulder and spent part of an evening at the Boulder Town Hall. During this time, a dark figure of a man was seen sitting in the dress circle. The ghost hunters also encountered a woman in Victorian dress, standing on the stage. They did try to communicate with these spirits but they weren't replying It was all a bit scary!... Four years later, I cannot help turning my eyes up to the dress circle, when entering the main hall, to check if the man is sitting there! #askacurator

20.01.2022 The Goldfields War Museum celebrates the start of Reconciliation Week with the sharing of the life of Di Ryder and the important contribution she has made to her country and community. Noongar Woman Former Warrant Officer Class 2 Australian Regular Army... I aim to look after the welfare of veterans and their families so we can improve their lives. I have heard how poorly treated Indigenous World War II veterans were, so I wanted to help vets and their families as much as possible, especially as many are not getting the pensions or other support they are entitled to. If each and every one of us can contribute to the community, we can make the most of our opportunities and come together, not just as Aboriginal people, but as a whole community, as part of the reconciliation process. A lifetime of community service by Di Ryder has been recognised with the 2017 National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award. A Noongar woman from Perth, Di joined the Australian Army after finishing school, spending twenty one years in the armed forces, with her dedication to duty recognised in 1990 when she was awarded the Army Australian Day Achievement Medallion. Following her retirement from the army, Di turned her attention to helping fellow people, working as a community outreach worker in Redfern in inner city Sydney, before returning to Perth to become the full-time carer for her grandmother Mary. Di began working as Outreach and Community Liaison Coordinator with the Perth and Hills Division of general practice, the Telethon Speech and Hearing Ear Bus Program and Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service until her retirement in 2011. This however is only part of Di’s work in the community, who is also the President of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services and Veterans Association (ATSIVSA) of Western Australia, MC of the Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service held at the State War Memorial each year during Reconciliation Week, and multiple roles with the Swan Alliance Community. Di is quick to acknowledge the role of others in her NAIDOC Award success. I feel honoured and humbled, but this award is not just about me, Di said. The support and guidance I have received from my family, my mum Josephine, who passed away in 2006, and my dad William, has taught me that with hard work, and mutual respect you can achieve whatever you set your mind to. The local Midland community has played an important part in how much I have achieved, and have assisted me in so many ways to those in need. Through her role with ATSIVSA, Di is heavily involved in working to ensure indigenous veterans receive the proper support and recognition they deserve. Story and images courtesy of: Serving Country Portrait Series by: BLUR PROJECTS

18.01.2022 In support of Reconciliation Week, the Goldfields War Museum, honours local inspirational Goldfields woman: Kaylin Coleman Able Seaman Boatswains Mate... Royal Australian Navy Being able to serve my country, protect my friends and family, and be a role model to youth, especially Indigenous youth, is something that motivates me daily Kaylin Coleman was born and grew up in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and also, for a while, lived in Coolgardie. She attended Kalgoorlie Primary School, Kalgoorlie-Boulder (Community) High School and then the Eastern Goldfields College. A proud Kaparn woman whose language is Kalamia, Kaylin had thought about joining the army or navy from a young age. In 2014, Kaylin applied to the Australian Defence Force’s Indigenous Pre-Recruit Program after deciding she needed a change of career. On completion of the program, Kaylin decided that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) would be a good fit for her. She applied to join and after being accepted began the recruitment process at the HMAS Cerberus Navy Recruit School in New South Wales. Kaylin is the first Aboriginal woman from the Goldfields to enlist in the RAN. She was drawn to the RAN as it offered her an opportunity to travel and see places that she otherwise wouldn’t have seen. Kaylin spent three years on the HMAS Adelaide, where she worked as part of the Sea, Fire and Emergency Rescue Party. Then in 2017, she joined 200 sailors, of which she was the only Aboriginal woman, on the HMAS Waramunga in role of Boatswain’s Mate. As Boatswain’s Mate Able Seaman Coleman specialised in a range of seamanship duties including small boat operation, line-handling and close range weaponry. She is also a member of the ship’s boarding party which means she is part of a specialised team trained in boarding operations on vessels suspected of being involved in smuggling of illicit narcotics and other criminal activities. Kaylin was deployed to the Middle East as part of the Combined Task Force in Operation MANITOU, which is the Australian Government’s contribution to support international efforts to promote maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East Region. UPDATE: Thanks to a family update, we can announce that Kaylin has been promoted to Leading Seaman HMAS Adelaide. Congratulations Kaylin! From the Goldfields War Museum. Image courtesy of Serving Country Portrait Series by: BLUR PROJECTS and LSIS Tom Gibson, Navy Daily, Sailor still calls Kalgoorlie home, 11 July 2018, respectively.

18.01.2022 This year we commemorate 75 years since the end of the Second World War. The Goldfields War Museum collection contains a number of historic items that document the involvement of our region’s men and women in this event. The object pictured here is a silk scarf on which is printed the front page of The Nippon Times from 2 September 1945, the date that the Japanese surrender was formally signed in Tokyo Harbour. The Nippon Times was Japan’s largest English-language daily news...paper and during the Second World War was used as an instrument of propaganda by the Imperial Japanese Government. The scarf was brought home by Boulder man John Lyall McMahon. Prior to the war John worked as a postman at Boulder Post Office. When he enlisted in September 1941 his skills were transferred to service within the army and he served with a number of postal units within Australia and in New Guinea from 15 April 1945. After the Japanese surrender John was dispatched to Japan with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, landing at Kure on 22 February 1946. He continued to work in the army postal service in Japan until his return to Australia in February 1947. After being discharged from the army John resumed his job at the Boulder Post Office. He was a member of the Boulder R.S.L. and the Boulder Golf Club and in later years volunteered at the Goldfields War Museum. He died of cancer in Boulder on 24 June 1994.

17.01.2022 Looking for something to do with family and friends on Sunday morning? Sunday, 20th September is Boulder Market Day and the Boulder Town Hall, including the Goldfields War Museum, will be open from 10:00am - 12noon. Join us at 10:30am for a free guided tour of the Boulder Town Hall! Bathe yourself in the awesome atmosphere and history of the town hall and Burt Street.... See posters for more details

16.01.2022 Ask a Curator: Is your museum haunted? YES! In May 2016, ghost hunters visited Kalgoorlie-Boulder and spent part of an evening at the Boulder Town Hall. During this time, a dark figure of a man was seen sitting in the dress circle. The ghost hunters also encountered a woman in Victorian dress, standing on the stage. They did try to communicate with these spirits but they weren't replying It was all a bit scary!... Four years later, I cannot help turning my eyes up to the dress circle, when entering the main hall, to check if the man is sitting there! #askacurator

15.01.2022 Stories from the Archives: Trying times ahead calls for some Wartime thinking! Brawn, seriously who is going to touch it in the meat isle?... So there should be plenty right! During wartime no cut of meat was wasted, many of the adults during the years of the Second World War lived through the so called Great Depression. So they already knew how to save and make the most out of little. They ate everything, nothing was wasted. People who are Gen X, their parents are Boomers. The Boomers, well they were brought up to eat stuff like brawn, so Gen Y and Millennials you need to learn to eat like your Great Grannies. Firstly brawn was meat from a pig or calf’s head pressed into a pot with aspic, which is a meat jelly. Who does not like meat flavored jelly. Yummy! So the following are some brawn recipes from 1943, enjoy! Extract from Kalgoorlie Miner 10 December 1943, pg 2

14.01.2022 In celebration of Reconciliation Week, the Goldfields War Museum takes a moment to honour and share the life of: John Schnaars Retired National Serviceman... Vietnam War Veteran ‘I have to try to right a small wrong from many years ago that happened to these veterans. I believe it was the veterans who went away to war then, who had no rights in this country to vote or anything, and that it was those men and women, the few women that went away, that changed the course of history on the way Australia felt towards Aborigines. In my view, they were the people who led the change of history in Australia, towards Aboriginals being able to vote and have rights. It's for that reason, I think, that we owe them a lot...’ John Schnaars is an Indigenous Vietnam Veteran who has always believed in paying respect to all Indigenous defence service men and women who have served Australia in times of conflict. As a result of this vision, he established Honouring Indigenous War Graves Inc. in June 2005. This non-profit organisation operates around the primary objective of "honouring the service and sacrifices of our Indigenous veterans" here in Western Australia. Over a short period of time (2005-2010) he, along with his many supporters, has enabled the acknowledgement of over 100 indigenous veterans throughout the state. H.I.W.G. Inc. has touched the hearts of many families, communities, ex- and current defense personnel and many others through his ability to "make it happen". John's perseverance and strength of character has resulted in the placement of many headstones throughout Western Australia for those Indigenous veterans who otherwise would not have been recognised, along with a ceremony of recognition and acknowledgement for the families of these veterans. This alone has provided a long overdue opportunity for family and friends to openly share their love and pride for their passed loved ones efforts. He has often been asked what drives him and keeps him motivated when it comes to Honouring Indigenous War Graves Inc. His response is as follows: ‘Lest We Forget’ Story and image courtesy of: Serving Country Portrait Series by: BLUR PROJECTS

13.01.2022 Good News! From Monday 20th July 2020, the Boulder Town Hall, City Archives and Goldfields War Museum will once again be open from 10:00am - 4:00pm, Monday Friday. Guided tours of the Boulder Town will also commence on Monday at 10:30am. Due to maintenance work being carried out the Kalgoorlie Town Hall guided tours will be delayed until further notice. ... Please join us on Monday for a guided tour of the fabulous, Boulder Town Hall on Monday at 10:30am. Cost is $5 pp. See poster for more details

11.01.2022 Congratulations to the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder for being named a finalist in the 2020 Western Australian Heritage Awards! The City is a finalist in the category: Contribution by a public or private organisation, (A public or private organisation whose contribution demonstrates a commitment to cultural heritage and /or heritage-related work, services or program in Western Australia). The Boulder Town Hall and Offices is a finalist in the category: Conservation or adaptiv...e reuse of a State Registered Place, (This category recognises conservation or adaptation of a place entered in the State Register of Heritage Places). The City, recently submitted applications to four categories of the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, 2020 Western Australian Heritage Awards. We are thrilled to be named finalists in two of these categories! The applications focused on the conservation/restoration work carried out on the east wing of the Boulder Town, including the development and installation of interpretive displays for the Goldfields War Museum as well as the City’s commitment to preserving all forms of cultural heritage in its care. The Minister for Heritage will announce the winners via a media statement at the end of this month. To find out more about this year’s finalists visit: (https://www.dplh.wa.gov.au/heritage-2020-finalists).

11.01.2022 Today is "Ask A Curator", so I asked the curator of the Goldfields War Museum: What makes you proud to be a curator? It makes me proud to be a curator when people trust the Goldfields War Museum with their precious family objects, photos and stories. Families usually take very special care of items that were significant to the military service of their ancestor and when those objects are donated to a museum they trust that the museum will show the same level of care that the...y have. I’m glad that people see the Goldfields War Museum as the kind of place that values and treasures their precious family heirlooms as much as they do. With our museum expertise we are able to ensure that the items will last well into the future and that the people and stories behind them will not be forgotten. #askacurator

11.01.2022 The Boulder Town Hall Heritage Site, which includes the City Archives and Goldfields War Museum will reopen today, Monday 8th June with reduced hours of 10:00am 1:00pm, Monday Friday. We are excited to welcome our community back to the Boulder Town Hall, and we can assure everyone that the health and well-being of our visitors and staff is our single most important priority. As part of the City’s COVID-19 Safety Plan, the Boulder Town Hall has been deep cleaned during the... closure. We will also be increasing the cleaning of surfaces especially in public spaces on a daily basis and hand sanitiser will be provided at the entrance. There is a limit of visitors in place which takes into account the new occupancy limit, that allows 1 person per 2 square metres of venue space, as per physical distancing safety requirements. A ‘Visitor Book’ has also been provided to record your contact details, to comply with the WA Government Safety Plan Guidelines. We look forward to seeing you soon!

09.01.2022 Today the Goldfields War Museum celebrates Reconciliation Week, with the humbling life story of Shirly Mooney. Shirly Mooney, OAM I enjoyed the discipline and friendship in military life and nursing...Continue reading

08.01.2022 The City Archives needs your help! Within the Archives we have numerous images for which we have no description and therefore very difficult to catalogue into the City’s collection. These images were taken in the 1980’s and all we know is that they are of Kalgoorlie and/or Boulder. We will post an image and if you could let us know where you think it might be. Does this street in the image attached look familiar?... Any help to identify the location would be appreciated.

06.01.2022 On 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. With their armies retreating and close to collapse, German leaders signed an Armistice, bringing to an end the First World War. In the four years of the war more than 330,000 Australians had served overseas, and more than 60,000 of them had died. To commemorate Remembrance Day, the Goldfields War Museum will be presenting a free guided tour, Boulder Town Hall at 1:30pm... Please see poster attached for details.

06.01.2022 This year we commemorate 75 years since the end of the Second World War. The Goldfields War Museum collection contains a number of historic items that document the involvement of our region’s men and women in this event. The object pictured here is a silk scarf on which is printed the front page of The Nippon Times from 2 September 1945, the date that the Japanese surrender was formally signed in Tokyo Harbour. The Nippon Times was Japan’s largest English-language daily news...paper and during the Second World War was used as an instrument of propaganda by the Imperial Japanese Government. The scarf was brought home by Boulder man John Lyall McMahon. Prior to the war John worked as a postman at Boulder Post Office. When he enlisted in September 1941 his skills were transferred to service within the army and he served with a number of postal units within Australia and in New Guinea from 15 April 1945. After the Japanese surrender John was dispatched to Japan with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, landing at Kure on 22 February 1946. He continued to work in the army postal service in Japan until his return to Australia in February 1947. After being discharged from the army John resumed his job at the Boulder Post Office. He was a member of the Boulder R.S.L. and the Boulder Golf Club and in later years volunteered at the Goldfields War Museum. He died of cancer in Boulder on 24 June 1994.

05.01.2022 Another question for the Goldfields War Museum: What’s the weirdest object in Goldfield War Museum collection? The museum has a tin of powdered egg (and some other food rations) left over from the Second World War. Thankfully the tin is fully sealed, don’t like to think about what 75 year old powdered egg would smell like!... Do you have any questions you'd to ask our curator? #askacurator

05.01.2022 Want to learn more about the history of Kalgoorlie and Boulder? Then join us for a tour of the Kalgoorlie and Boulder Town Halls held weekly, Monday - Thursday. The City's local historian will entertain you with historical (and sometimes hysterical) stories of bygone days in the Goldfields. See poster for details.

04.01.2022 From the Goldfields War Museum: The close knit community of Leonora in Western Australia’s Northern Goldfields sent a fair share of its sons to fight in the First World War. The Lloyd brothers, Clarence Langley (Langley) and Vereker Raymond, children of Alice Lloyd of Gwalia Street, Leonora were two who enlisted....Continue reading

03.01.2022 What's the most dangerous object in the collection? Uranium! When I first started working at the Kalgoorlie Town Hall as Local History and Archives Officer we had a rock collection in a small wooden cabinet. I did not take much notice of it for years. Until one day for some reason we wanted to change things around so the rock collection gets to be put into storage. Fishing around in the cabinet this yellow lump of rock comes out and it is flaking. A label had been lost an...d a quick search of the internet describes the rock as uranium. The specimen was from Yeelirrie. A quick call to the School of Mines and a lecturer and a Geiger counter comes up. The lecturer turns on the counter and off it went clicking away madly. Ah it’s ok, he went, mostly beta radiation, very little gamma. You get more when flying to Perth. He went on to say: put it in a glass jar and it will be right. Its stored in a box marked radioactive hazard. #askacurator

03.01.2022 IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK! Sunday, 16 August, Boulder Markets return to Burt Street! This means that the Boulder Town Hall and Goldfields War Museum will be open between 10:00am and 12 noon. The Eastern Goldfields Historical Society will be conducting a free historic tour through the town hall at 10:30.... Hope you will be joining us to celebrate beautiful Burt Street!

02.01.2022 The City Archives needs your help! Within the Archives we have numerous images for which we have no description and therefore very difficult to catalogue into the City’s collection. These images were taken in the 1980’s and all we know is that they are of Kalgoorlie and/or Boulder. We will post an image and if you could let us know where you think it might be. Does this street in the image attached look familiar?... Any help to identify the location would be appreciated.