Kimberley Page » History

Kununurra: Town’s 50th anniversary today

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:05:22 +0000

Kununurra is now officially 50 years old.

On 10 February 1961 the Governor approved the townsite’s gazettal.

Kununurra Historical Society is celebrating this afternoon with a ceremony, events, and a special museum display.

You can read a statement from the society here:

Kununurra Townsite Proclamation

KHS Museum Open Night – Feb. 10th

To celebrate 50 years since the Gazetting of the Town of Kununurra on February 10th 1961 – A ceremony and events will happen around 4pm on the lawn area in front of the former PWD Hostel & Club (Country Club Resort). Call into the museum (Just across the road – Next door to the old PWD Office Building) before the event or drop in after.

The organisers have moved the event from the civic area of town to be closer to the Museum, as KHS will be open this coming Thursday evening. So after the ceremony come along and view “A Photographic Journey on the Ord” – To see the results so far of the KHS digitisation program, with assistance from the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley and other donors of time and equipment.

Go to the KHS Open Night – Feb. 10th Page to see the text of the proclamation or download the February 10th 1961 Government Gazette from there.

Fitzroy Crossing: Prospector accused of mate’s murder 1886

admin — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 07:52:13 +0000

In 1886 police apprehended a prospector at Fitzroy Crossing and charged him with the murder of his mate.

This story comes from a New Zealand paper of the time:

Southland Times , 17 January 1887, Page 2 - click on the image to read more

From the archives of the National Library of New Zealand

Have you lived in Kununurra?

admin — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 03:05:35 +0000

Ord Diversion Dam under construction in 1961 - courtesy Kununurra Historial Society

Kununurra Historical Society would like to hear from you.

“At this point in the evolving history of Kununurra, the Kununurra Historical Society Inc. (KHS) Archive & Museum would like to call for the many former residents to provide us a short history and any images of their involvement in the town,” says the group’s website.

You can read more if you click here.

Kununurra: Historial society going digital

admin — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 03:13:27 +0000

Kununurra Historical Society is digitising its extensive collection of prints, slides and documents.

Records, including newspaper clippings, go back to the beginning of the diversion dam’s construction in 1960.

Kimberley Echo [read this story]

Broome: On history, tourism and pearls

admin — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 21:05:56 +0000

Community Newspapers’ Nicole Harrison lobbed in Broome, where she learned a little history at Pearl Luggers.

inmyCommunity [read this story]

History: Broome News and the Paddy Roe picture

admin — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:05:03 +0000

Broome Museum’s secretary John Kennedy responded to our request for the origin of this Goolaraboolo elder’s photo.

He wrote (thank you sir):

Your web site indicates you thought this photo was from a book, but you didn’t know what.

It is in fact a copy of a full A4 page (page 2) from the August 27th 1990 edition of the Broome News that our museum has in its achives.

Regards,
John Kennedy
Secretary, Broome Museum

Broome News was a popular monthly produced by volunteers in the 1980s.

Although I have not lived in Broome since 1984 I still remember particular issues edited by Roni Francis and Eiva Thomsons. Another notable editor was Bruce Cooper.

Perth readers can also ask to read copies of Broome News at the Battye Library.

-GV

History: Goolarabooloo law man Paddy Roe

admin — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 21:05:34 +0000

A group formed to celebrate an ancient West Kimberley heritage trail has been circulating this old picture.

It is of the late Goolarabooloo law man Paddy Roe.

The text reads:

Paddy Roe. Order of Australia.

“This is my Gulbinna (shield). The government gave me this medal. This Gulbinna is asking the medal, you going to break up this country or keep it the same since Bugarre Garre (Dreamtime).”

This appears to be a page from a book of some kind, and KimberleyPage would like to acknowledge the source. If you can tell us where the picture first appeared please contact us.

History: The true story of Russian Jack

admin — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:05:34 +0000

Our tourists often hear “true” story of a mad Russian depicted in bronze outside the visitors’ centre.

According to the plaque under the statue, “Russian Jack” is supposed to have pushed a sick mate from Halls Creek to Wyndham on a wheelbarrow.

“Not true” says historian and publisher Peter Bridge, who has written a book about the bush legend.

You can read his statement here:

Russian Jack

Peter J. Bridge

Out of the great Kimberley goldrush of 1886 came stories of hard men in a hostile land. Some grew into legends, entering folklore, larger than life in their own lifetimes but now almost completely forgotten. Men like those of the Ragged Thirteen, Paddy the Flat, Tom Hood, Frank Hann, Billy O’Donnell, William Carr-Boyd and Russian Jack. Women also, Mother Dead Finish and the Mountain Maid. Of all these none has seen the legend eclipse the man as the story of Russian Jack. A legend in his own lifetime, the strongest man on the goldfields, Wheelbarrow Jack.

The first great gold rush of Western Australia drew men from thousands of miles to the Kimberley. A few hardy overlanders made it through with packhorses from the Territory and further east or from the south via Newcastle Waters. Most, however, landed by ship at two previously non-existent ports, Wyndham and Derby.

From these distant and uninviting landings the diggers headed south or east through desolate, uninhabited and trackless country to their goal, Halls Creek. At the time of the rush it was an area rather than an organised settlement and consisted of police tents and a hastily erected bough shed sly groggery, with the diggers scattered over a wide area.

Men died from thirst, disease or native attack, and were buried where the fell. Horses, especially those from New Zealand, died by the score, and their bones and the wreckage of the drays together with the lonely graves marked the new track as tragic milestones.

Along the track from Derby, Russian Jack set out with his ungainly wheelbarrow loaded with provisions. In a particularly difficult section about thirty miles from Halls Creek he found a sick and worn out prospector. Succoured, he was placed with his swag on Russian Jack’s barrow and carried to safety.

By this act Russian Jack endeared himself to a generation of men and ensured himself an unlooked-for fame and immortality that has become the epitome on the concept of mateship in Australia. This is his story.

Includes an essay

The Twilight of the Gods of Truth and Perfection

Professor Leslie R. Marchant

After describing the two influences, Hellenism and Christianity, that have led Western civilisation to value truth and achieve perfection, the essay describes how those following false Gods have created myths wrongly presented as facts in the maritime history of Australia. It then describes in three parts how, under the influence of postmodernism and other doctrines of action, the Temples of the Muses (Museums) now disseminate messages that mislead instead of seeking to correctly educate.

There is then listed wrong monuments and erroneously worded plaques that have erected with bad advice and without accountability. The final section is about public records which, if they are not correctly created and carefully preserved intact, will lead to the perpetuation of errors and twisting of facts that cause the blunders described in the opening parts where the need for truth and perfection in public education is emphasised.

ISBN 0 85905 283 4

2002, Soft Cover, 143 pages, illustrated, 200grams, $22.00 + POST

People: The Torres Family

admin — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 03:05:11 +0000

The Torres family trace their lineage back to Jandamarra.

ABC Message Stick aired a program about the family, by several members who have been working on the Jandamarra film.

ABC [read this story]

Traditional Owners speak – pt II Pearl Shell, Riches of the Sea and double log raft

admin — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 21:05:50 +0000

Traditional Owners give an introduction to traditional seaside cultural matters, and the effects of the pearling industry.

Part 3 this Saturday.