Eastern Goldfields Historical Society in Boulder, Western Australia, Australia | Arts and entertainment

Eastern Goldfields Historical Society

Locality: Boulder, Western Australia, Australia

Phone: +61 8 9093 3360

Address: Old Boulder Municipal Power Station, Hamilton St 6432 Boulder, WA, Australia

Website: https://www.kalgoorliehistory.org.au

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25.01.2022 For all of the writers out there. You might be interested in this. https://www.slwa.wa.gov.au//western-australian-premiers-bo

25.01.2022 It's coming, it's available to order now and it's only $15.00. Drop us a message or order your copy online. See the website for details. https://kalgoorliehistory.org.au/.

25.01.2022 The final Boulder Markets are on this Sunday 20th December. The Society will be open from 9am to 11am. For those last minute shopping ideas, we have a limited supply of our 2021 Calendar and a large range of Historical books for sale, fantastic Christmas presents. Check out our website www.kalgoorliehistory.org.au click on tab, Services/ bookshop / publications and view books for sale... Wishing our Facebook Friends, Christmas Cheers, Seasons Greetings, and safe travel. Thank you all for your support and friendship during 2020. The Society will be closed from Monday December 21st 2020 reopening 9am Tuesday January 12th 2021.

25.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past The Legend of Convicts’ Gold Kurnalpi...Continue reading

24.01.2022 The Eastern Goldfields Cycle Club has a rich history. The annual Cyclassic, KalgoorlieMenzies-Leonora is on the long weekend in June. Volunteers and participants welcome.

24.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past. Parkers Range Part 1... Parkers Range was one of those Goldfields which lured a great number of experienced prospectors, but never yielded any great reward. Few seemed to have stayed, since by 1901 only fourteen people remained. Early explorers referred to Parkers Range the hills, not the townsite which is on the very edge of the ranges, some thirty five miles south of Southern Cross. Most prospectors of some note at some time tried their luck here, including, in 1888 Gilles McPherson, who nearly perished in the vicinity of Lake Lefroy on his return journey. The man most remembered, and commemorated by a small plaque on his shaft, was Paddy Hannan. The shaft was a sizeable one, and probably many others since Paddy Hannan tried their luck in it. He moved back north-east prospecting..and found the Golden Mile William Ford, Bayley’s future partner at Coolgardie, with partners George Withers and L. Jacoletti, went as far as a place called Native’s Grave, twenty-five miles south of Southern Cross. They found gold, pegged a claim, and sold it to a man named Salter for 300 pound. Salter wanted two men to look after the show and Ford and Jacoletti accepted the job. Bayley had been invited to join them but preferred to try his luck on the Murchison, where McPherson had struck good gold. The story connected with Native’s Grave is that an Aboriginal had promised to lead a prospector named William Parker, to plenty fella gold if he would build a fence around his brother’s grave. Both men kept their word, and after building the fence Parker was shown where the gold was, at a spot he named Parker’s Range Although it did produce gold for many years, there was little depth, and by no stretch of the imagination could its yields be described as plenty fella gold. Apparently the prospectors Greaves and Henderson, of Yilgarn fame, also visited the area in 1892, being led by an Aboriginal woman called Maggie, but as Greaves was by then very ill. He returned to Perth, cared for by his mate Henderson. It can be claimed, with justice, that many of the men who were to become famous prospectors had tried their luck at Parker’s Range Excerpts taken from The Goldem Miles 1977 H.H. Wilson ISBN 0 7270 029307 Photograph McIntosh Mine Parker Range

24.01.2022 Do you recognise this intersection? EG-N-250-003

23.01.2022 On this day ... in 1902 The WA School of Mines opened in Coolgardie.

23.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past. Mining Areas Red Hill (Kambalda) The area was visited by Mr Macrea, proprietor of the London Financial Times, who reported that phenomenal specimens had been found there.... The vein was largely intermixed with calc-spar and carried marvellously rich gold. He saw half a ton of specimens which had been collected and every stone showed bunches of gold freely. Some were later exhibited in the windows of the Kalgoorlie Miner on April 28th, 1898. The most famous of these was called the Butterfly, a specimen shaped exactly like a butterfly even to the perfection, of its little antennae. The beauty of this was commented upon by May Vivienne, who gave her judgement: Red Hill is not a bad little place and the bush hotel is good. She also saw the adit called the Treasure Chamber. The tunnel proved to be very rewarding and for a time supported 1,000 men. There was one rich stope called Wynne’s Luck. The surface was worked extensively for alluvial gold and traces of scarring still remain. This not bad little place had at least twenty-one leases, though many of these were over the same ground Three proved to be exceptionally rich: Boomer, 1,396 fine ounces (1898-1908); Red Hill (W.A.) Gold Syndicate Ltd, 9,640 . (1898-1903) plus 1,380.32 dollied; and Red Hill Westralia G.N. Ltd, 19,532 fine ounces (1903-06). So it is easy to see that prospectors assumed that the fabulous finds of Coolgardie, and later Kalgoorlie, could be repeated all the way to the coast Excerpt taken from The Golden Miles by H.H. Wilson ISBN 0 7270 0293 7 1977 Photographs from Eastern Goldfields Historical Society Collection Westralia G.M. EG-N-017-009a

23.01.2022 Remembrance Day Two Letters sent to the The Editor of The Kagoorlie Miner regarding the Councils decision that no Remembrance Day take place on 11th November, 1925 Taken from Kalgoorlie MIner 13th November, 1925

23.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past Malcolm Malcolm is situated 65 miles north of Menzies and is on the main coach road. ... Gold was discovered by Speakman and Ryan at Malcolm some time before Bayley’s find at Coolgardie. Speakman however never pegged out the ground at the time, and contented himself by taking away the richest portion of the outcrop. It wasn’t until 1895 that Birks and party, after finding good gold on what is now known as the North Star, applied for the first lease in the district. This township never had enough substance even to develop into a Ghost Town. It is the end of the line from Kalgoorlie to Leonora and, at one time , when the line was extended to Laverton, was a busy junction for Gwalia and Leonora to the west and Morgans and Laverton to the east At one time it had a population of 400, with the dubious distinction of 4 hotels and a brewery. The town was named after Malcolm Hammersley who accompanied John Forrest on his trip in 1869. The town was incorporated in 1900, and several public buildings such as a Railway Station, Post Office, Police Station and a Government Hospital were built. The Town Hall was added in 1902 Excerpts taken from Western Mail and Westward Gold by H.H. Wilson 1973 Photographs from EGHS Digital Collection

23.01.2022 In the lead up to ANZAC Day, 2021 we are sharing the stories of service men and women from our City. Sister (Katherine) Mary Coleman was known as 'Australia's ...most travelled nurse'. Born at Hay, New South Wales, Mary came to Western Australia with her parents in 1897 at the age of 13. In 1906, after three years training at hospitals in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie, she was accepted (on probation) into the employ of Western Australian Government Hospitals. After working in Perth for about 18 months, Mary travelled to England where she gained qualifications in maternity nursing and sanitation. At the outbreak of war in August 1914 she was nursing in the slums of London. Mary joined the 'Imperial Nursing Unit' and had the distinction of being the first Australian nurse on service in the war, being posted to military hospitals in France and London. In April 1915 she joined a team of 40 nurses and several doctors bound for Serbia. When members of the unit were captured by Bulgarians, Mary became a prisoner of war for several months. The British authorities negotiated their release, however the major condition of freedom was departure through a neutral country, so the nurses undertook a long journey through Romania, Russia, Norway and Sweden to reach England. For her work in Serbia she received a testimonial from the Serbian Relief Fund and the Cross of Charity from the King of Serbia. After this ordeal Mary returned to Australia. She joined the Australian Army Nursing Service late in 1916 and was soon headed overseas again. She subsequently served in military hospitals in France and England until the conclusion of the war in November 1918. Mary was bestowed with the Order of St. John of Jerusalem from the British Red Cross Society for services rendered during the war. Back in Australia, Mary spent 18 months working at No. 8 Australian General Hospital, Fremantle, tending to sick and wounded men who had returned from Europe. After being formally discharged from the military, Mary went on to a globetrotting career, nursing in New South Wales, New York, Columbia, Peru and Venezuela. She passed away in New York on April 11 1933, aged 53.

22.01.2022 https://timegents.com/2018/12/02/grog-uncle-obadiah/ The website Time Gents Australian Pub Project recently published a story about the Boulder City Hotel.

22.01.2022 Meet Nadra, our much appreciated book binder and repairer. Nadra has just completed a covering of our new acquisition donated to EGHS by author Norma Latchford.

22.01.2022 Hair cut anyone? EG-N-249-001

22.01.2022 HOW SKIMPIES BECAME A THING IN KALGOORLIE-BOULDER Local historian Tim Moore says it wasn’t until 1977 that the first ever topless barmaid ended up in Kalgoorli...e-Boulder. She was a barmaid at the Commercial Hotel [which eventually] burned down, he said. Beverley started the trend where you went from topless [to], out at a very fine establishment called the Main Reef Hotel, where they had the first naked barmaid. Though this was very popular with patrons, Mr Moore said it proved less so with the health board who wanted her to cover up. They wrapped her up in glad wrap, he said. So in the end it changed to négligée [which] evolves into the skimpies that we have today. Listen to the full Dark History segment on Friday’s program with Dinushi Dias: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/goldfields/programs/mornings/

22.01.2022 It was party time at the power house today. Happy birthday Barry. Barry is one of our wonderful volunteers and I think a lot of you would remember him as Mr Aslett.

21.01.2022 Join us at the Christmas Street Party on Burt Street, Boulder. We'll be here till 7:30pm, great chance to pick up your 2021 Calendar before they sell out!

21.01.2022 Great news. Registrations are now open for the 2021 State History Conference hosted by the Eastern Goldfields Historical Society. Reserve your spot now. Information available on our website or phone 9093 3360.

21.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past Christmas on the Fields Part 1... Two Christmas Periods on the early Eastern Goldfields were important. The first one after Bayley’s Find in September, 1892; and the second after Hannan’s Find in 1893. Conditions in the bush were dry and hot, and there was great anxiety about the welfare of all men placed so far forward of Southern Cross, the nearest established place, 110 miles away. In 1892 as the year drew to its dry close, despite the hardships and the considerable difficulties about water, there was appreciation of the comforts, primitive in many ways, that the settlement of Coolgardie had to offer. True! There was little real comfort, nor great variety of goods to be got; but men who are on gold wanted to hang on as long as possible. Most of them badly needed what they could get. The population was about 300; two women had arrived (Mrs Felix Murphy and her daughter Edith; Edith was one of the first white girls into Southern Crossin 1889). Swelling the ranks of the diggers were some rather important personages in Lord Percy Douglas and the Hon. David Carnegie who had come from England and were sampling life on the Diggings; Sylvester Browne also, with Everard Browne and Gordon Lyon. These men were among those who were the first Christmas hosts to small groups of men in the far away new place; groups partaking in simple fare in the most simple manner in the bush. Father Treacy, the first cleric had come for a time; and two Salvation Army men in Lennie and Bensley were on the scene, with thoughts of good will and help where needed. Christmas fare was frugal for all. The little parties round the tents and small fires boiled the billies and partook of the Tinned meat, tinned pudding and Billy Tea cheerfully or thankfully, with the spirit of Goodwill to All triumphant over all the handicaps of adversity or hard living. For a time the dust from The Flat was forgotten; quiet reigned and friendship ruled. The short break was welcome; but not for long! Soon the men were back at the old dirty occupation. Written by George Spenser Compton..Historian Taken from Eastern Goldfields Historical Societies written history..3.177.1(b) Photograph EG-N-002-001a

21.01.2022 Exciting news ...calendars have arrived.

21.01.2022 The remains of the Boulder Block.

20.01.2022 Outback grave markers recognising the unmarked graves around the goldfields. The work and dedication of this volunteer group is is to be highly commended.

20.01.2022 Flashback to 1905. One of the great images in the EGHS collection. EG-N-250-002

20.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY The restart of operations at Wiluna was the tip of the iceberg for Western Australia’s gold mining industry in 1987, with 26 new mines beginning production across the State that year. ABC Archives

20.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY Don’t ever take on this prospecting it's just throwing your lifetime away. Coolgardie prospector Jack Carins was described as the last dryblower working in the Goldfields in this story from 1971. ABC Archives

19.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past. Towns along the Woodline Part 2... Kurramia besides the goods yards, sheds, store and water supply, a small hotel functioned on the southern side of the Kurramia level crossing for awhile, it being proposed in 1907 when the Licencing Court held sessions in Kalgoorlie. In October 1910, the publican Mr W, J, Finn was declared bankrupt, so it may have had a short existence. When it was sold, the hotel was described as having 13 rooms. And its name was the Junction Hotel. Kurramia also boasted a State School till March 1913, which was located on the opposite side of the Kanowna Road, to the woodline depot. Bulong the townsite layout was a big one, around 300 to 600 people lived here in its heyday. There was the Bulong Roads Board, hospital, school and police station. On the east of the town provisions where put in place for a Racecourse. Reid Street was the main North-east thoroughfare. Cable, Lardner and Jones operated the main store and the town boasted 4 hotels, those being the Court, Bulong, Federal and Globe. South of the woodline, there was a small gold mining locality called Randells, which boasted the Flagship Hotel. Services The wood train went out every morning 6 days a week from Kurramia and Bulong to the end of the track, returning in the afternoon or evening. The normal load included 20 trucks of wood, van and 3 men (driver, guard and fireman). The wood train also carried passengers, being the easiest way to get to Kalgoorlie. The passengers to Kalgoorlie boarded the Kanowna train at Kurramia. Although it was a private line, it served a significant service for the Bulong population, delivering stores and passengers. It was referred to as the afternoon train. In its final years of service, the odd excursion ran to Bulong. On Easter Monday a special train was put on for St Georges Presbyterian Sunday School to depart Boulder at 9.15am, thence running via Golden Gate and Kallaroo to Kalgoorlie, the train was reversed and run to Bulong via Kurramia Excerpts taken from a story in the Light Railways Magazine dated June 2014 written by Rod Milne. Special Thanks to Peter Green for providing me with the information from the magazine Photographs from the Eastern Goldfields Historical Societies Collection

19.01.2022 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our Facebook Friends President, Committee, Executive Officer and MembersMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our Facebook Friends President, Committee, Executive Officer and Members

19.01.2022 15th June 1951. Scott's Debutante Ball. Do you recognize any of the face? We would really love to know who's in the picture. TW-0138-N-002

19.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY The Mt Charlotte gold mine was being read its last rites in this story from October 1976 but was later saved from closure. The underground mine is still operating today and has produced more than six million ounces. ABC Archives

19.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY In a bizarre incident from 2001, a 48-year-old man was accused of stealing a light aircraft from his employer at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport. ABC Archives

19.01.2022 Burt Street 1950's. TW-1262-N-008.

19.01.2022 There has been a few posts about the Mt. Lyell Hotel lately. So here is another great picture from the archive.

18.01.2022 We now have a new collection of old books. A very generous donor brought in 19 record books from late 1800s Kanowna: Court books, letter books and our favourite, a complaints book!

18.01.2022 Albion Hotel. Still here today. Magnificent isn't it? #EGHS #Canstilldrinkhere #AlbionShamrock #Boulder_Western_Australia #Kalgoorliehistory

17.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past Woodlines Bulong’s Woodline 1908-1918...Continue reading

17.01.2022 Last night our Guest Speaker was John Fannetti who spoke about Gwalia, John was 6 years old when the family moved to Kalgoorlie-Boulder. John's Grandfather and his Uncles first came to Leonora leaving behind in Italy John's Grandmother and his Father, who was a small boy then. His Father came to Australia eventually and settled in Leonora. They had a market garden on the outskirts of Leonora. John is still amazed at how his Grandfather and Uncles coped in the hot, dry, harsh... conditions, as they came from green grassy hills and lakes in Italy. Later John's Father and Mother after being married moved to Gwalia.and his Father worked in the mine. Even though John was little when they left Gwalia, he listened to stories of the good times in Gwalia and was able to spin a few yarns last night. See more

17.01.2022 DID YOU KNOW? The first ever swimming baths built in Kalgoorlie was at Victoria Park in 1900. All the water was pumped out of the mines. Women could only bathe on Wednesday evening.

17.01.2022 The Mt. Lyell Hotel. 1956. A picture from our Tom Williams Collection. TW-1173-N-001.

17.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY When I first arrived here Menzies was a city of about 10,000 people, there was 15 hotels, three breweries, stores, chemists and doctors a...nd a lot of activity it was going to be the next Kalgoorlie. In 1971, hundreds of people attended a special reunion in the northern Goldfields called the Back to Menzies celebrations. ABC Archives

17.01.2022 A new heritage trail will be established at what's believed to be Australia's biggest ghost town. The gold rush town of Kanowna, about 20 kilometres east of K...algoorlie-Boulder, had a population of about 12,000 at its peak. The Eastern Goldfields Historical Society has been awarded $105,000 by the State Government to install interpretive signage for the heritage trail. President Scott Wilson is hopeful it will be launched by the middle of next year. "It's got a wealth of history but when you go there, there's nothing to the untrained eye," he said. "But when you put your eyes on the ground you can see the broken glass, the foundations or the old rail siding that's still there. "We can actually bring that to life by the panels, information, the website, by being creative." State Library of WA

16.01.2022 Did you get a copy of The West Australian yesterday? How about the Kalgoorlie Miner? #EGHS #KalgoorlieHistory

16.01.2022 Happy Hump Day everyone!

16.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past Lake View and Stars Christmas Tree About 3,000 will gather on Kalgoorlie Racecourse on Sunday Afternoon for the Lake View and Star Christmas Tree.... Number of Children of employees to be catered for is 1,435. All will receive a present worth 12 shillings and sixpence from the 10 Christmas Trees. Committee will distribute 10,000 ice creams and 500 gallons of cool drink. There will be a sports programme Taken from Sunday Times Sunday 3rd December, 1950 Photographs donated. Railways Christmas Party All Goldfields children are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Father Christmas at Kalgoorlie Railway Station on Christmas Eve. The special train conveying Santa Claus on the last lap of his long journey will arrive about 7.45pm. It will proceed first as far as the hospital before returning to the platform. Parents are advised that the Railway Tennis Courts will be open for the convenience of mothers with prams and seating accommodation will be provided there. While the big street carnival is in progress the Gala Christmas Eve dance will be held in the Railway Institute commencing at 8pm Taken from Kalgoorlie Miner Monday 22nd December, 1947

16.01.2022 MEMORIES OF THE HISTORIC EXCHANGE HOTEL Sandra Giles was only two years old when her family ran Kalgoorlie’s iconic Exchange Hotel between 1949 and 1961. Ms ...Giles remembers the original colour of the pub as well as the "characters", the fights and the fun. It was quite a safe place, everyone was friends, it was good feeling, she said. But a lot of people were heavy drinkers and pub brawls were a huge thing and my dad encouraged it all. I would walk home from school and walk straight in at lunchtime and sit in the main bar. Do you remember Kalgoorlie-Boulder back then? Let us know in the comments below Listen to the full story on the program with Dinushi Dias (starts about 36 minutes in): https://www.abc.net.au//progra/mornings/mornings/12841594 : Sandra Giles and her family when they returned in the 1970's.

16.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY Remember The Kalgoorlie overnight sleeper? It used to take 14 hours to get from Perth to Kalgoorlie, until the Prospector came along in 1971. State Library of Western Australia

15.01.2022 The Eastern Goldfields Historical Society will close on Friday 18 December and reopen on Tuesday 12 January 2021. Seasons greetings to all of our volunteers, staff, members and supporters. 2021 will be a big year for the Society with work commencing on the Kanowna Heritage Trail plus in September the Royal Western Australian Historical Society will hold their annual conference in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.... We welcome visitors and new members. Drop in for a cuppa one morning, meet new friends and maybe you’d like to volunteer a couple of hours of your time. Merry Christmas See more

15.01.2022 Are you feeling Fancy? Mr. Parsons has what you need.

15.01.2022 The Queen and Prince Phillips visit, Boulder, 1954. I remember dancing for the Queen and the Prince in 1988 on the oval with all the other schools in the district. Who remembers the songs? Share your stories and images below. #EGHS #Kalgoorliehistory #Goldfieldshistory

15.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY Check out life on the Nullarbor with this amazing footage from Rawlinna in 1968. Sadly there is no sound, but it offers a rare glimpse into life along the Trans-Australian Railway. Recognise anyone? ABC Archives

14.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY A big crowd turned out to see a large metal cylinder, believed to be wreckage from the Skylab space station. The object was found near Rawlinna on the Nullarbor and brought into Kalgoorlie for scientific testing in this story from July 1979. ABC Archives

14.01.2022 Hannan Street. 1902. EG-N-045-006a

14.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY The WA School of Mines was founded in 1902 and remains one of the world’s top-ranked mining schools today. The ABC toured the Kalgoorlie campus in 1981. ABC Archives

13.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past Widgiemooltha Few townships can claim the distinction of having their name spelt as many ways as this little settlement half-way between Coolgardie and Norseman.... Some ways it has been spelt is Woodgee Mulla, Wijimoola, just plain Widgie and many more. The official name is Widgiemooltha. There four different meanings given to the name, said to be Aboriginal, and according to your mood you take your choice ; happiness valley, place of evil spirits, valley of the crows, or black crow’s beak. Catherine Bond mentioned the inn at Woodgee Mouilla, so there must have been a settlement of some kind there before 1896. Other records refer to two hotels. The settlement was declared a town in 1897. Various mines are mentioned, such as the Cardiff Rocks, but such primitive attempts as there were at mining were soon in trouble because of the problem with underground water. Apart from the Paris mine, worked by the Lister brothers during the depression and up to the late 1940’s, no fortunes were made. Although more than fifty leases are mentioned between 1897 and 1947, none seem noteworthy. The best two were Linders 2,811.32 ounces and Yorkshire Lass 1,180.97 ounce. Lady of the Lake did not live up to its romantic name and only yielded around 27 ounces between 1900 and 1907; and Lefroy’s Gin produced only 9 ounces up to 1897. The Paris mine worked at a profit from 1931 to 1948 with a five-head battery, but it was beaten by water and low gold prices. In the 1970’s Inco operated a Nickle Mine about 7 miles out of town. Water proved a problem for them too. Stories about the hotel are legendary. It was in existence in the early 1890’s, just a bough shed with a few makeshift rooms at the back. Later it advanced to a plain wooden structure with twin gables. Today it has brick painted a light blue, but the old name still remains: Widgie Hotel. On the front is a plaque to the memory of Tommy Talbot, who once owned it. Stories about him are legendary, too, and one states that, although a very wealthy man, he would seldom stay overnight on his way to his pastoral properties further sout because the tariff was too high. During the 1920’s Talbot and Sons took up Bimeringia Station, forming a pastoral company later known at Waterdale. This included Widgiemooltha and carried about 9,000 sheep. Excerpt taken from The Golden Miles by H.H. Wilson 1977 ISBN -0 7270 0293 7

13.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past Londonderry Part 2...Continue reading

13.01.2022 Who remembers having a nice cold drink here? #EGHS #BoulderBlock #cantdrinkherenomore #boulder_western_australia #kalgoorliehistory

13.01.2022 A GRAND GESTURE In 1914, Mr J.T. Ruttle of the Perkolilli Station, offered the use of Lake Perkolilli for a motor gymkhana, to the Goldfields Motor Club. The... lake, seven miles out of Kanowna, was a combination of terracotta clay, two miles across, as hard and flat as a billiard table. A perfect surface on which to race "being almost impossible to slide or skid." The offer was quickly accepted and details for a grand motor picnic on Lake Perkolilli, were discussed at a well-attended club meeting at the Criterion Hotel. The unique event on May 31 would include races for cars, motor cycles and side cars, speed tests and numerous novelties of an exciting and humorous nature. A week before the meet, a working bee set out from the club to the Lake, to lay and mark out the courses. The event was advertised in the Kalgoorlie Miner with the promise of a huge program of "thrilling speed events". On the day, the road to the lake from Kalgoorlie and Kanowna presented rather an unusual sight - clouds of dust dotted at fairly regular intervals when viewed at a distance. There were about 38 cars present on the lake and about 300 people in all A great number of them coming in sulkies and on bicycles. Everyone in the best of spirits. The racing was of "an exciting character", and "some very fast times were put up as a consequence of daring riding round the circular course, which measured one and three-quarter miles". Laps being done by the 7 hp Indian and 6 hp Henderson, at the speed of over a mile a minute. There were only minor mishaps a dislocated wrist in a fall, a seized piston preventing one machine from racing and a lost silencer off a Douglas Motor Cycle (reported in the 'lost and found' section of the Kalgoorlie Miner a few days later). The day was "voted by all the fair sex present" (about 150 in all) as the best day’s outing ever spent on the fields, and there was "no lack of lady passengers anxious to take a seat in the racing cars". Throughout the 1920's and 30's, Lake Perkolilli, became known as one of the best natural race tracks in the world. Thousands of motor racing enthusiasts raced around its circuit to loud applause. Sadly World War II put an end to the legendary races as fuel and men became scarce. Note - This commentary has been sourced from articles appearing in WA newspapers at the time using the magic of Trove. It provides an insight into the event at the time but is not intended to be a definitive history. Take a moment to enjoy these images from the State Library's collection... RAC WA ABC Goldfields-Esperance Triple M Goldfields Kalgoorlie Miner Motor Museum of Western Australia Western Australia WA Sporting Car Club Vintage Sports Car Club of WA Wanneroo Raceway Motorsport Australia Australia's Golden Outback Motor Racing Australia - MRA Outback Family History History Council of Western Australia Red Dust Revival 2019 at Lake Perkolilli

13.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past The Lister Brothers. Lake Lefroy Salt Works.... Another success story of Widgiemooltha is that of the Lister Brothers, George , Jack and Arthur. They were the oldest family there for many years. Two of the brothers came from Mundijong during the Depression and worked the Paris mine as a family concern until 1948. However, the Lister brothers had other irons in the fire and continued to add to them. They took up pastoral leases in the vicinity, the partners running sheep and pigs. The freest run a man can have was the comment especially as 300 ounces of gold was produced monthly to a total of 14,808 fine ounces. The Paris mine was about twenty-two miles from Widgiemooltha and residents were proud of the high standard of living there, even owning a private tennis court. But when the mine closed down George Lister sold it and bought the salt works at Lake Lefroy: then the store; later the hotel, the post office and the garage. As far back as 1925 a Mr O’Calligan owned a small salt works. Salt is found at Lake Lefroy in great quantities. The salt deposit at Lake Lefroy has an exceptional purity with an average content of about 99% sodium chloride. Since 1942 the W.A. Salt Supply has collected salt from 500 acres of Lake Lefroy near Widgiemooltha; also from Pink Lake near Esperance. About 12,000 tons are stockpiled annually at Lake Lefroy and about 1,000 tons at Pink Lake. The Widgiemooltha salt is gathered by grading it into windrows. After two areas have dried it is picked up by a front-end loader and dumped into stockpiles at the lake’s edge. It is loaded as needed into trucks, taken to an overhead bin at the siding, and screened into coarse and fine. Some is bagged and the rest is bulked by rail to Robbs Jetty, near Fremantle, for shipment and refining for household and commercial purposes. It is a far cry from the early 1890’s when lone prospectors and travellers called in for water at the condensers along the edge of Lake Lefroy and complained that even when condensed, the water tasted salty adding that they had never seen so much salt in their lives. George Lister had the foresight to recognise this and planned accordingly. As far back as 1942 he estimated that 20,000 tons of salt were produced and that the workers, many of them Aborigines, received 150 pounds per annum. Doubtless today (1977) the wage is higher. It is hard, exacting work, especially in the high temperatures which usually prevail, but George Lister works on principle; treat your employees fairly and they will stick by you. The photographs below were taken in the 1920,s when Mr O’Calligan owned it and most of the work was done by hand and bagged to be taken to the railhead. The people in them are from Widgiemooltha. Excerpt taken from The Golden Miles by H.H. Wilson 1977 ISBN 0 7270 0293 7 Photographs are from a Private Collection and taken 1920circa

13.01.2022 Kambalda Primary School Camp. 1987. Who went and where are you now?

13.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past. Parkers Range Part 2... One man who thought there were easier ways of making a fortune than by prospecting was Bill Benstead, who had taken up a property near Parker Range. He announced he would take 100 sheep over land to Bayley’s Find through thick bush country, claiming that the demand for fresh meat on the fields was so urgent that it looked a good proposition to him. He was ridiculed on all sides, men claiming that he could never drove sheep through the dense bush without losing the lot. However, he carefully followed the native watering places, usually soaks or rock holes, and arrived safely at Coolgardie. Here he was made welcome, and decided to stay and open the first butchery. Further south still was the Bonhams mine at Forrestonia. The Bonham family lived at the original mine, the Black Prince, where from twenty to thirty men were employed. But there was only one shaft, and although 779 ounces of gold were recovered from the top, it soon petered out. The daughter, Violet Bonham, used to travel to Southern Cross for stores, a distance of ninety miles. She would travel alone and the trip would take about a week. On one occasion she made her over night camp nine miles out of Southern Cross. Later the same night Ernie Foote, taking stores to his brother-in-law Jack Tuckey, pulled in there and rolled his swag out next to another traveller, already asleep. When he called Breakfast early next morning, up popped Miss Bonham.much to his consternation. Excerpts taken from The Golden Miles 1977 H.H. Wilson ISBN 0 7270 029307 Photograph taken from Those Where the Days by Arthur Reid Bill Benstead standing on right

13.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past Higginsville Higginsville was declared a town in 1916, and named after well-known prospector, Paddy Higgins.... It boasted mines like Daughter of Erin (1,382.25 ounces), Fairplay (approx.. 5,000 ounces), Sugar Gun (2,726 ounces) Red Hill Westralia G.M. (16,983 ounces), Sons of Gwalia (4,742 ounces), and More Sons of Erin (well over 4,000 ounces). The latter being worked as late as 1946. In all, about twenty-four leases were taken up from 1906 to 1946. When we had driven from the main road a few miles, we came upon the remains of the Two Boys mine, a great heap of rusting machinery and the open cuts now fallen in, as also were the numerous shafts scattered everywhere. We called upon the last two contented men in the world, Vince and Alex, who lived in a little home they had built themselves. They were aged Eighty-three and seventy-eight, and certainly seemed to live up to their reputation. What is more, if contentment makes for longevity, they were good examples. Both were Yugoslavs who had come to the Goldfields in the Depression and decided to remain on after everyone had left. They had their own water supply and had used this to make a most attractive garden. We saw trellises of grapes, fruit trees, almond trees, all kinds of vegetables and the largest bush of thyme I’ve ever seen. Not may people come to Higginsville now, they explained, save a few nickel hunters, but with revival of interest in gold it is possible some of the large tailings dumps will be treated again. But the future does not interest Vince and Alex very much. The present is what counts Excerpts taken from The Golden Miles by H. H. Wilson 1977 ISBN 0 7270 0293 7 Photographs taken from Eastern Goldfields Historical Society’s Collection

13.01.2022 Charles Yelverton O’Connor - WA’s engineer-in-chief who designed the 530km Goldfields water pipeline - was born on this day in 1843. C.Y. O’Connor famously sh...ot himself at Fremantle, less than a year before the pipeline was commissioned. In 1972, the ABC produced the series Behind The Legend, a dramatisation of his life. ABC Archives

12.01.2022 After you have enjoyed your tour on Burt St don't forget to call into the Historical Society and enquire about your own Kalgoorlie-Boulder heritage.

12.01.2022 Congratulations Dr Norma Latchford! EGHS members recently attended a presentation by Dr Latchford, EGHS member, on her recently finished thesis, A Study of the Relationship between Mining and the Performing Arts in Australia 1850-1914; case studies of the Ballart and Kalgoorlie-Boulder Goldfields. The event was held at the Goldfields Rep Club to a crowd 60 plus. Dr Latchford provided great insight and evidence of how the mining industries in the goldrush era supported and gre...w the performing arts industry at the time. EGHS President, Scott Wilson, accepted a copy of Dr Latchford's thesis on behalf of the Society, which is now available for members to read. It is a great achievement by Dr Latchford, and we are thrilled to accept this significant body of work which goes towards promoting and preserving Goldfields history. #KalgoorlieHistory

11.01.2022 At our General Meeting this week we welcomed Lewis Johnson from the Goldfields Rep Club. Lewis shared the Rep Clubs building project and discussed some of the Clubs history with members. The Club was formed in 1931 and was known as the Brookman Street Theatre. It currently has 92 seats, however the ambitious building project will expand the theatre to 127 seats and will be a two story building. With additional storage and modern technology this rebuild will maintain the familiar old feel and provide the community with a entertainment space for the future generations to enjoy. Thanks Lewis for sharing the Clubs vision and we look forward to seeing it being realise. The Rep Club will celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2021.

10.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY The decay of the town has been almost total as this gold town comes down, you can’t help wondering if this will be the fate of all the i...ron towns that are now going up. This was Gwalia in 1969, barely five years after the closure of the gold mine turned the northern Goldfields community into a ghost town. ABC Archives

10.01.2022 It is with delight to share with you all that the Eastern Goldfields Historical Society was announced as a recipient of the GEDC Regional Economic Development Grant today. The society has been awarded $105,000 towards the Kanowna Heritage Trail, a project that many of you have been behind over the past decade. The application submitted in June this year covers off Stage 1 of the Kanowna Heritage Trail Plan which was created by Jessie Brampton in 2014 and funded by a Lottery...west grant. A copy is available at the Society for you to read. We are absolutely thrilled with this news, there is a lot of work ahead for the Society come 2021, which also celebrates our 75th Birthday! We look forward to sharing more news with you about this project and if you feel you can bring some skills the many projects we deliver, your support would be appreciated.

10.01.2022 If you have 5 minutes please check out KCGM's Local Voices Survey. Each survey completed gives you $5 as 10 tokens which you can donate to the EGHS. Your donation will go towards preserving and promoting Goldfields history, and greatly appreciated! https://voconiqlocalvoices.com/kalgoorlie-boulder/

08.01.2022 A shout out to all the men growing a "Mo" for Movember. I think Mr Hannan is suffering from moustache envy. Mr. Cassidy growing a mo before it was hip, we salute you. Can you caption the picture?

08.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY The famous Boulder Block pub has long since disappeared to make room for the expansion of the Super Pit gold mine. This story from 1990 shows how old shafts underneath the pub were used by miners to sell stolen gold. ABC Archives

07.01.2022 Thank you Kelly Price and others for helping keep the fire at bay at the Loopline and EGHS border prior to firies finishing the job. Much appreciated.

07.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Indian Pacific. The ABC was on board in 1970 for a 4,352-kilometre transcontinental journey from Perth to Sydney. ABC Archives

07.01.2022 This story has been published before by the Historical Society on Facebook

07.01.2022 Take Me Back to... The Telephone Exchange.. The Telephone Exchange was opened in August 1897 with 43 subscribers connected. ... On completion of the Post and Telegraph Office, Hannan Street in 1899, a telephone exchange was installed on the second floor of this building. Telephonists were employed by the Postmasters General’s Department [PMG]. The operators used cords to plug callers into local and trunk (STD) calls. Trunk calls were timed in three-minute time slots. After more than 100 years of operation The Kalgoorlie Telephone Exchange (Manual Assistance Centre) closed in June 2001. It was technology that finally led to the closure of an institution, with computers eventually replacing people. The friendly voice at the end of the line was replaced by an automatic one and the Telephone Exchange quietly passed out of existence. pavedwithgold.com.au @ClaireWeirPhotography

07.01.2022 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.

06.01.2022 We're sure Eucla's morse code operators would be busy as a bee over the next 24 hours with the State border reopening... except of course they no longer exist. ...This photo was taken in 1898, just before the border between WA and SA closed due to COVID-19* *we may be exaggerating a little but tbh that is how long it feels like this has gone on.

05.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY With all the buzz surrounding the latest series of The Crown, let's look back at Australia's 1988 bicentennial when Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip completed a Royal tour of Geraldton and Kalgoorlie-Boulder. ABC Archives

05.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past The Legend of Convicts’ Gold Kurnalpi... Part 1 Kurnalpi is one of these places which loomed larger than life, certainly larger than it actually was. This is doubtless because of the many myths associated with it. First of all, it was a native well by that name, and an old Aboriginal woman had told Charlie Crossland, a contract surveyor, that there had been plenty of gold there. Then there was the aura of mystery and romance connected with the legend of Convicts’ Gold a find more by three escaped convicts who had helped Charles Hunt cut his track(later a life-line to so many prospectors). They had refused to speak about this find or reveal its location. Most likely, in that vast waterless country they could not have pin-pointed it themselves. However, it was like a tale of buried treasure in that its irresistible lure drew men in search of it for years. In December 1893, Jack Reidy, one of the lucky gold-finders, had come in to Coolgardie with news of another find at Kurnalpi. Individual prospectors joined in the goldrush, but a more sober syndicate was formed by C.M. Harris, Bob Ross, Charles Courtland and Tom Halliday, backed by DeCourcy, who had been working as a chairman for Courtland. The scarcity of water prevented a really big rush to Kurnalpi, and the only survivors were those diggers able to obtain iron tanks to condense water from the meagre salt lakes. The syndicate reached the field in good time, convinced that this was indeed the long dreamed-of location of Convicts’ Gold. They were able to peg a claim near Reilly’s Hill, and almost at once struck a fine patch. What further proof did they need? Excerpts taken from The Golden Miles by H.H. Wilson Photograph from EGHS Collection

05.01.2022 Book of the Week 1920's Glimpse of Widgiemooltha by Eileen J. Moroney - a short history of mining town Widgiemooltha and photos of the 1920's activities and residents. $7.50. Buy online at https://kalgoorliehistory.org.au/publicati/publication.php or pop in an see us at the Old Boulder Power Station Building, Hamilton St.

04.01.2022 Update EGHS Executive Officer appointment I am very pleased to let you know that Rosie Stroud has been appointed as our new Executive Officer for the Eastern Goldfields Historical Society. She will commence on 11th November 2020. The Society again acknowledges the support of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in providing the funds to allow us to employ an Executive Officer and also to have engaged Ethel Chinnery as our interim Customer Service Officer.... W Scott Wilson President, Life Member Eastern Goldfields Historical Society Inc. PO Box 643, Kalgoorlie, WA 6430 www.kalgoorliehistory.org.au

04.01.2022 FLASHBACK FRIDAY In April 1993, riders and their horses completed a 560-kilometre trek from Kalgoorlie to Perth to celebrate the centenary of the Goldfields city. ABC Archives

04.01.2022 Showing tonight at Orana Cinema. 6.15pm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8DT_zVzxhk

04.01.2022 All aboard the Christmas Train. Parkeston, 1981, Family Christmas Day. Do you recognise anyone?

03.01.2022 Last Wednesday our guest speaker was Bodean Buckingham. After the meeting Bodean took our members for a cruise in the Tourist Tram

03.01.2022 Eastern Goldfields Historical Society is seeking a full time Executive Officer The key responsibilities will be to plan, prioritise and execute projects and initiatives undertaken by EGHS... Ideally you will have experience in West Australian and local history, collections care, museum, art gallery management or a related discipline You will also have excellent customer service skills and the ability to assist visitors and researchers Please email [email protected] for a Position Description Applications close 5pm Monday 5th October 2020 For further information contact Scott Wilson 0417 945 659

03.01.2022 The Goldfields War Museum was recently honoured to be visited by Lieutenant-Colonel Partridge and officers from 16 Battalion, Royal West Australian Regiment. Ma...ny men from the Goldfields region served with 16th Battalion during the First World War. In 1921 the Goldfields regiment was renamed the 16th Battalion in honour of this association. A large number also fought with the 2/16th Battalion during the Second World War. The Kalgoorlie based Army Reserve unit currently upholds the traditions of the Battalion within the Goldfields. We were pleased to share some of the stories of local 16th and 2/16th Battalion soldiers with our visitors. At the conclusion of the visit Lieutenant-Colonel Partridge presented the museum with a flag featuring the Battalion emblem. The museum is very grateful to receive the flag and is looking forward to continuing to commemorate the historical links we share.

03.01.2022 Thanks to Ethel for sharing these great pictures.

02.01.2022 We use to have Bonfire night today 5th November

02.01.2022 A bit of APLA history ...

02.01.2022 Eileen Joyce, born in a tent in Tasmania she spent most of her childhood in Boulder, Western Australia. It was there she learnt to play the piano in a miner’s saloon. This year she was inducted into Sounds of Australia. https://www.nfsa.gov.au/colle/curated/sounds-australia-2020.

02.01.2022 Glimpses of the Past Christmas on the Fields Part 2... The next Christmas (of 1893) was approached under much the same conditions, as to water, and provisions as before. Exceedingly difficult, and still a long way out. But this time there were extra ‘fields open; and more men scattered about. Hannans, found in June, and the very young White Feather, as well as settlements right through the 25 mile, 45 mile to the 90 mile with men all doing fairly well, and some of them even happy with their results or present good fortune. By this time most men had seen gold in quantity, and most of them too had begun to learn the ways of the bush and the tricks of gold finding. The splendid results from Sylvester Browne’s work at Bayley’s was a lesson to all, setting a high tempo to life; all were heartened, and at least there were great hopes and expectations! Gold was King! Very dry and thirsty conditions had to be faced in all these centres; although there were hundreds of teams on the roads; but water more precious than ever. As the days drew near to the second Christmas again the word went round from Warden Finnerty at Coolgardie and Gledden at Hannans Get Back to the Cross; and general exemptions was granted to free men from the necessity of manning their claims. Quite a number of men did go back, some to Southern Cross only, and others right to the coast. Cammilleri was one who left his good claim at HannansThe Brown Hill, and did not return until the next year. Christmas was coming! And many thought about it! Christmas Day was on a Sunday; and for almost a week before good weather had prevailed; it was beautiful and all that could be desired. Some rain of a few days before had cooled the air and laid the dust (and provided many with a wash). Christmas Day was sparkling and bright; as charming as at any popular resort. Written by George Spenser Compton..Historian Taken from Eastern Goldfields Historical Societies written history..3.177.1(b). Photograph from Eastern Goldfields Historical Societies Collection "Christmas Dinner"

02.01.2022 Don't forget we are open from 9 till 11 today. Come in and grab your last minute books and calendars. #EGHS #Boulder_Western_Australia #Cantdrinkherenomore #Kalgoorliehistory

02.01.2022 We have some amazing volunteers at the Historical Society. Today we had our final volunteer morning tea for 2020. We would just like to say thank you to all of our volunteers. You all do an amazing job and are greatly appreciated. It couldn't be done without you.

01.01.2022 Mining Plant Excelsior GM EG-N-27-30a

01.01.2022 Hannans Larger is back!

01.01.2022 Book of the Week - Available from the EGHS Book Shop Exploration Eastwards 1860-1869 by Peter J. Bridge and Kim Epton is one the most concise publication of Early Explorer’s Diaries. $90.00.... https://www.kalgoorliehistory.org.au/publi/publication.php

01.01.2022 Who remembers having a nice cold drink here?