-
The Lost Tin of Gold
A ten ton crushing is going through the little 3-head mill on the Lake Way lease from the Black Swan in a day or two. This parcel is bound to yield well, and I will leave further comment until the mill has had its say. The mill had its say and the crushing yielded 97…
-
A Royal Mishap
May it please Your Royal Highness, On behalf of the citizens of Perth, the capital city of the State of Western Australia, we, the Mayor and councillors, beg to tender to Your Royal Highness a loyal and hearty welcome. And welcome him they did. The people of Perth lined the streets and cheered loudly as…
-
Credgington & Bradbury
This blog post is a follow up to Death at Lake Austin. You may wish to read Death at Lake Austin first before reading the story of Credgington and Bradbury. Old Mate! In the gusty old weather, When our hopes and our troubles were new, In the years spent in wearing out leather, I found you…
-
Death at Lake Austin
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following blog post may contain images and names of deceased persons. On 26 November 1930 Hughie King departed Austin Downs Station (his place of employment) and headed southeast towards Lake Austin. Foxes were a nuisance in the area and, as part of his job, he went…
-
The Oldest Swagman in the State
Like all good bushmen, he knew how to spin a yarn. As he ambled into towns carrying a billy and his matilda (swag) he almost always sought out a man of the press. Paddy Redmonds me name, and I am the oldest swagman in W.A. With attention firmly turned towards him, Paddy would launch into…
-
The Great Monkey Escape
It all started innocently enough. The British India steamer Nalgora departed Calcutta in early November and arrived in Fremantle Harbour on 27 November 1931 carrying a cargo of gunnies (coarse, heavy fabric) and bananas. The unloading of the cargo began almost immediately and it was at that point that a monkey was spied on deck.
-
The Hermit of Mount Clara
All Olaf Magnus Svenson really wanted was a home, food, water, a garden and peace and quiet. To achieve this, he decided to set himself up far away from civilisation; over 50km away from the nearest town; on a remote mountain near the Yellowdine Nature Reserve. Described as a “bare granite rock” and a “waterless,…
-
Monster in the Avon
Excitement was caused in Northam when it was reported that a strange creature had been seen on two or three successive nights in the Avon River, near the Central Bridge. On 14 January 1929, The West Australian broke the story of the strange creature in the Avon River. While some swore that what they had…
-
‘Jonas’ and the Whale
While today (in most parts of the world) whaling is thankfully banned, in the past, whaling was an occupation that was carried out regularly. Whales were hunted to extremes for their blubber, oil and bones. Western Australia was no exception with whaling being an early industry in the colony. Early accounts indicate great excitement at…
-
Rocky Bay Joe
Looking upon the decade as a whole, we can see that many interesting events took place throughout the 1830s. William IV succeeded his brother to the throne of the United Kingdom in June 1830. The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 (abolishing slavery in the British Empire) was passed. Charles Darwin set off on a voyage of…
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
The Dusty Box 