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Goldfields Stories of Western Australia

Goldfields Stories of Western Australia

Lorraine Kelly

History and stories of the Western Australian Goldfields written by local historian, Norma King (OAM) and Lorraine Kelly. Podcasts produced and published by Lorraine Kelly

23 - Norma King and George Bennetts Interview in 1970
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  • 23 - Norma King and George Bennetts Interview in 1970

    George Bennetts was an early resident of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and became a Member of Parliament.

    Synopsis of interview

    Born in South Australia he arrived in Fremantle in 1896 with his mother and siblings, to join his father who was working at the Great Boulder Mine.  They came out on the steamship 'Innamincka'.  He then details his journey by train to Kalgoorlie; the Cobb &​ Co. coach; Afghans and camel teams.
    His father had contracted typhoid fever and his mother had to walk a distance through the bush to visit him.
    Recollections of schooling at Reverend Collick's school in a tank in 1896 and then the Boulder school.
    After leaving school at 14 he starting work with a building contractor; work with a bike shop, Alfred's Dairy and sandalwooding.
    He describes his travels to the Whim Creek Copper Mine aboard the SS Koombana and the slave-like conditions he encountered at the mine.
    Details his walk 69 miles to Roebourne; being caught by police and a night in gaol.
    To return to Kalgoorlie he is employed as a cook for a cattle droving team and describes the poor treatment of aboriginal stockmen and working conditions.
    He recollects a conversation he had with an employee of the SS Kombanna, and how the employee told him the ship was dangerous since it was re-plated, as it was top-heavy. This man thought it would sink during a cyclone.  The ship did sink during a cyclone on the 20th March 1912 killing 150 people.  This was the first time Bennetts had told this story.
    Mon, 23 Nov 2020 - 46min
  • 22 - Was Jack the Ripper caught at Southern Cross, Western Australia? Chapter Two

    Recently I began revising an article Norma King had written about the first piano of Southern Cross and then of Coolgardie. In it, she stated that the notorious murderer, Frederick Deeming, who had many aliases, used to play it. She claimed in this article that his reputation as a good pianist helped detectives unravel his alias, which led to his arrest in Southern Cross. The article then went on to tell of how the piano also played a role in saving another man's life.

    I was interested in learning more about this notorious murderer, so I began searching for articles written about Deeming at the time and it turns out he is one of the suspects for being Jack the Ripper. This podcast looks into the life of the murderous Deeming.

    Listen to chapter one before listening to this podcast

    Chapter two of two. For more information, go to Goldfieldstories.com

    Sun, 19 Jul 2020 - 33min
  • 21 - Was Jack the Ripper caught at Southern Cross, Western Australia? Chapter One

    Recently I began revising an article Norma King had written about the first piano of Southern Cross and then of Coolgardie. In it, she stated that the notorious murderer, Frederick Deeming, who had many aliases, used to play it. She claimed in this article that his reputation as a good pianist helped detectives unravel his alias, which led to his arrest in Southern Cross. The article then went on to tell of how the piano also played a role in saving another man's life.

    I was interested in learning more about this notorious murderer, so I began searching for articles written about Deeming at the time and it turns out he is one of the suspects for being Jack the Ripper. This podcast looks into the life of the murderous Deeming.

    Chapter one of two. For more information, go to Goldfieldstories.com

    Sun, 19 Jul 2020 - 25min
  • 20 - The Dalmatian Connection, Chapter 8: The Coolgardie Exhibition of 1899

     Chapter 8: The Coolgardie Exhibition

    A brief history of the International Mining and Industrial Exhibition held in Coolgardie in March, 1899.

    The PDF booklet of the Dalmatian Connection and all of the  mp3 files are available from Goldfieldstories.com

    Further episodes are as follows:

    Chapter 1: The Kazeas.

    Jenny and Mat Kazea arrived in Boulder, Western Australia, from Victoria in 1897. They decided to embark on an overseas trip for six months to visit Mat's family in Zlarin and Jenny's family in Ireland. They also decided to go to Paris to see the International Exhibition that was held there in March 1900. 

    Chapter 2: Jenny's diary. 

    Go back in time with Jenny on the steamship Oroya, as they travel to Zlarin. You will then follow their travels in Zlarin, Trieste, Vienna Leplitz and Paris in the year 1900.

    Chapter 3: The Paris Exhibition

    Jenny's diary gives an interesting account of the Paris Exhibition of 1900 and the city of Paris. They then travel to England and Ireland. We then travel with them on the Ortona back to Australia.

    Chapter 4: Jean

    Jenny adopted Mat's niece from Zlarin. Her name was Tomasina. She later married and had a girl named Jean. This chapter looks at her early life in Fremantle and Spearwood.

    Chapter 5: The Lime Kilns

    In 1933 Jean agreed to work for her brother as housekeeper and cook in a remote settlement on the Transcontinental Railway Line called the Lime Kilns.  This chapter looks at the unique and isolated community that produced lime for the goldfields. Jean lived at the settlement for 33 years

    Chapter 6: A First World War Diary

    Jenny found a diary written by Sister Fitzpatrick. This diary details her experiences as a nursing sister in the First World War. 

    Chapter 7: Continuing Jean's Story

    Jenny's recollections of interesting events at the Lime Kilns and the challenges of living in a remote settlement.


    Tue, 26 May 2020 - 10min
  • 19 - The Dalmatian Connection, Chapter 7: Continuing Jean's Story

    Chapter 7: Continuing Jean's Story

    Jenny's recollections of interesting events at the Lime Kilns and the challenges of living in a remote settlement.

    The PDF booklet of the Dalmatian Connection and all of the  mp3 files are available from Goldfieldstories.com

    Further episodes are as follows:

    Chapter 1: The Kazeas.

    Jenny and Mat Kazea arrived in Boulder, Western Australia, from Victoria in 1897. They decided to embark on an overseas trip for six months to visit Mat's family in Zlarin and Jenny's family in Ireland. They also decided to go to Paris to see the International Exhibition that was held there in March 1900. 

    Chapter 2: Jenny's diary. 

    Go back in time with Jenny on the steamship Oroya, as they travel to Zlarin. You will then follow their travels in Zlarin, Trieste, Vienna Leplitz and Paris in the year 1900.

    Chapter 3: The Paris Exhibition

    Jenny's diary gives an interesting account of the Paris Exhibition of 1900 and the city of Paris. They then travel to England and Ireland. We then travel with them on the Ortona back to Australia.

    Chapter 4: Jean

    Jenny adopted Mat's niece from Zlarin. Her name was Tomasina. She later married and had a girl named Jean. This chapter looks at her early life in Fremantle and Spearwood.

    Chapter 5: The Lime Kilns

    In 1933 Jean agreed to work for her brother as housekeeper and cook in a remote settlement on the Transcontinental Railway Line called the Lime Kilns.  This chapter looks at the unique and isolated community that produced lime for the goldfields. Jean lived at the settlement for 33 years

    Chapter 6: A First World War Diary

    Jenny found a diary written by Sister Fitzpatrick. This diary details her experiences as a nursing sister in the First World War. 

    Chapter 8: The Coolgardie Exhibition

    A brief history of the International Mining and Industrial Exhibition held in Coolgardie in March, 1899.

    Mon, 25 May 2020 - 26min
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