Goldfields Stories of Western Australia

Norma King interviewed Renzo Mazza in 1979. The Mazza family ran the local store in Gwalia, which is now part of a State Heritage listed property. Norma King was also a resident of Gwalia. Her parents moved there around 1930, Her father treated the slime dumps for gold. Renzo tells of an old miner called Peg Leg, gambling priests, police, a shooting, Italian cooking - little birds of polenta - and...

This radio piece was produced in 1992 about Norma King. For those interested in the early days of Western Australia, this revised piece will be a real treat. The original audio has been complemented with Norma’s photos and historical pictures of the time. for her service to the community. The author of a number of books including Nickel Country-Gold Country, Daughters Of Midas, Wings Over The Gold...

Step into 1900s Kalgoorlie, where English tradition met Australian irreverence in the short-lived Goldfields Hunt Club. Beagles, red coats, and herrings set the scene in this curious tale of colonial spectacle and spirited satire. Adapted from historian Norma King’s original article, with poetic flair from Dryblower Murphy and narration by Lorraine Kelly for GoldfieldStories.com.

Discover the true story of how a young banker opened a makeshift bank in 1890s Kanowna (then White Feather), using a tent, a chain, and sheer determination. A vivid and humorous tale from Western Australia's Goldfields history.

Step inside Kalgoolie's grand old Mechanic's Institute and the magnificent Trivoli Garden Theatre - where high culture met frontier chaos. From Elegant reading rooms to riotous shows, this episode dives into the beating heart of early Goldfield's entertainment.

In 1915, a group of Kalgoorlie locals built WA’s first aeroplane — and what followed was part triumph, part chaos. Based on Norma King’s research, this episode tells the daring and often hilarious tale of outback aviation history, crash landings, and a very nervous passenger.

In 1910, Albert Eastwood soared over Kalgoorlie in the first balloon show on the Goldfields — then jumped! A true tale of thrills, gasps, and parachutes in triplicate.

In 1897, Coolgardie’s attempt to host an Orange Lodge march turned into a full-blown brawl. With swords, iron bars, and a flying flag or two, Evie and Jim take you through one of the goldfields’ most unexpected public punch-ups—with humour, history, and a dash of disbelief.

The first piano in Southern Cross and Coolgardie had stories to tell. From serenading settlers to exposing a killer and saving a lost soul in the desert, discover the wild history of a goldfields piano like no other.

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;...

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...

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...

  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...

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 189...

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.  The PDF booklet of the Dalmatian Connection 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....

  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. The PDF booklet of the Dalmatian Connection and all of the  mp3 fil...

  Chapter 4: Jean - Her early life in Fremantle & Spearwood 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. 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:...

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.    The PDF booklet of the Dalmatian Connection and all of the  mp3 files are available from Goldfieldstories.com   Further episodes are as follows: Cha...

Written by Norma King and first published in the Kalgoorlie Miner in 1979.  Prince Edward spent a day in Kalgoorlie and Boulder in 1920.  This is a brief account of his successful tour in the goldfields and an account of the earlier train-crash in the South-West that the Prince and Lord Mountbatten apparently enjoyed! For more information and photos, go to https://www.goldfieldstories.com/post/unt...

  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 1:  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...

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.  The PDF booklet of the Dalmatian Connection is available from Go...

Historian and author, Norma King, fondly reminisces about her life in Wiluna, Western Australia during the 1940s. First published in "Colourful Tales of the Western Australian Goldfields" in 1980.  To read the story and many more, go to goldfieldstories.com/blog Revised June 2025

In the early days of Western Australia, there were a lot of colourful characters, but none were more colourful than William Carr-Boyd who was known as the Prince of Storytellers. His exploration was recognised by giving his name to the Carr-Boyd Ranges in the Kimberly, Carr-Boyd Rocks in the Eastern Goldfields and, in the 1970s, a mine, the Carr-Boyd Nickel Mine was named after him but he was also...

In the early 1900s, Mt Ida was a small, but productive community with no telegraphic communication. 'Bone-shakers' - the trusted bicycle, were used to send messages to Menzies, which was 86 km away, over rough, dirt tracks. Long term Tommy Andrews also gives an account of life there in the early days. To read the blog, go to https://www.goldfieldstories.com/post/history-of-mt-ida-ghost-town-and-lo...

By 1910 most of the excitement had gone out of mining in the eastern goldfields. Then the Bullfinch was discovered. Fortunes were made and lost during the boom, but the main mine was a big producer for a number of years. To read the blog and see photos, go to https://www.goldfieldstories.com/post/new-hopes-the-bullfinch-rush-of-1910