It’s desolate and dry at Arltunga. It’s hard to see how people managed to live there, and very easy to see why they died. At 100km east of Alice Springs, even today it’s a long way from anywhere. Yet it was the first substantial European settlement in Central Australia thanks to the lure of gold.Continue reading “Gold mining ghost town cemetery tells of hard lives”
Author Archives: Sharyn Moodie
Pugilist dies after a fight
1880 – William Brown, a 29-year-old Englishman, was a well-known pugilist around Charters Towers. In the days before the Marquess of Queensberry rules were enforced by the legalization of boxing in the various colonies, watching and betting on illegal bare-knuckle fighting was a popular pastime. Brown and another fighter were arrested about four miles fromContinue reading “Pugilist dies after a fight”
Violin case causes death
Hughenden, 1926 – A newspaper carried this story about an innocent bike ride to school ending in tragedy. “Ida Harrison, aged 5½ years, only daughter of Mr and Mrs T. Harrison, of the Railway Department, met with a very sad accident on the 11th instant. “She was, with her brother, riding a bicycle to school when a violinContinue reading “Violin case causes death”
Springsure cemetery holds links to history
There are some poignantly historic markers of death in the Springsure region, the most notable the remote cemetery marking the Wills massacre at Cullin-la-ringo. You can read about that story here. But in the town’s spread-out cemetery lie some fading remnants of people whose tales are slowly being lost to history. John George Wheeler wasContinue reading “Springsure cemetery holds links to history”
One turn of the windmill
Hughenden, 1928 – Fifty-year-old Charles John Burdekin Abbott had made sure the windmill was turned off before he climbed up to do some repairs. According to newspaper reports, he and a workboy were at his neighbour’s property Wyoming. His neighbour was in hospital, so he was doing him a favour. But a gust of windContinue reading “One turn of the windmill”
Fence the dams, the town cried
Charters Towers, 1885 – The drowning death of Nell Richards led for calls for the town’s dams to be fenced before any more children were lost. Elizabeth Ellen, known as Nell, was watching her younger sister bathe with several other children at Mr Mill’s dam at the top end of Mosman Street. Nell was onContinue reading “Fence the dams, the town cried”
Settler’s wife burns while cooking dinner
1926 – “Harry, I am in flames,” Florence Muir cried. She had just put a pot of apples on the stove, and while walking to the table smelt something burning. She looked down and saw her dress on fire, the flames quickly growing. Her husband, Harry was having a rest as he waited for hisContinue reading “Settler’s wife burns while cooking dinner”
Amputation saved life – briefly
1880 – Henry Yelverton was considered the most experienced timber merchant in the colony of Western Australia. Yelverton was the man responsible for supplying timber for and constructing the Busselton jetty, the 1.8k heritage-listed landmark and major tourist attraction. He was certainly one of the richest men in the region. As well as his timberContinue reading “Amputation saved life – briefly”
Teen sulky driver hits stump
1922 – Fourteen-year-old John Geoghegan was driving home in a sulky with his sister when it hit a stump and overturned. They were about six miles from Jarrahwood, a small settlement between Busselton and Nannup in Western Australia. His sister was thrown clear. A local woman, Mrs. Buckingham, who was riding home, found the boyContinue reading “Teen sulky driver hits stump”
Busselton’s old cemetery boasts many great stories
The stories this graveyard could tell. The Old Busselton cemetery lies within cooee of the famed Busselton Jetty, the southern hemisphere’s longest timber jetty. The man who was responsible for the supply of that timber lies in the cemetery. Henry Yelverton died in a timber industry accident that led to an in-the-field leg amputation. ReadContinue reading “Busselton’s old cemetery boasts many great stories”
Way to go Australia 