FREMANTLE, PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

We spent a few days staying in Fremantle at the historic National Hotel.

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National Hotel, Cnr High & Market Streets, Fremantle, Western Australia

The National Hotel is on the corner of High and Market streets in Fremantle. Originally built as a shop in 1868, it was occupied by the National Bank in the early 1880s. When the bank relocated in 1886, the building became the National Hotel.

Stained Glass Doorway, High Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Side Door, Scots Presbyterian Church, Parry Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Doorway, 63 Market Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Relics of SS Xantho, WA Shipwrecks Museum, Marine Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia

Story of the SS Xantho


Anchors Exhibit, WA Shipwrecks Museum, Marine Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia


Arty Occy, Fishing Boat Harbour, Mews Road, Fremantle, Western Australia


Staircase, WA Shipwrecks Museum, Marine Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia


School of Medicine, Notre Dame University, 21 Henry Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Statue, John Curtin Place, Kings Square, High Street Mall, Fremantle, Western Australia

Perhaps the most iconic of Australia’s prime ministers, John Curtin is bound to ordinary Australians by his working class roots and trade union advocacy, but most importantly as Australia’s war-time voice. Although Victorian by birth, Curtin made Western Australia his home in 1917 where he became an editor for a union press. 
He joined federal parliament in 1928 as the elected Member of Fremantle. He became leader of the Labor Party in 1935 and prime minister in 1941 in the midst of war with Germany and Italy, with troops deployed in fronts in the middle-east and Europe. Weeks after his succession Australia was pulled into a war in the Pacific. 
Curtin’s decisions strengthened relations with the United States, as their interests were directly threatened by Japan who had attacked ports in Australian and allied ports around the pacific. 
Curtin died in office only weeks before the formal ending of the war in the Pacific. As Western Australia’s first and only prime minister, John Curtin is commemorated at King’s Square in Fremantle.

Statues, Kings Square, Queen Street, Fremantle, Western Australia

Top:

Air Commodore Sir Hughie Idwal Edwards

Bottom:

Pietro Giacomo Porcelli


The Drill Hall, 27 Mouat Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Sundown, Bathers Beach, Fremantle, Western Australia


The University of Notre Dame Australia, Malloy Courtyard, Mouat Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Tom Edwards Memorial Fountain, Kings Square, Adelaide Street, Fremantle, Western Australia

See Article 1919 Fremantle Wharf Riot


Tourist Wheel, Esplanade Park, Marine Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia


Town Hall from The National Hotel, Cnr High & Market Streets, Fremantle, Western Australia


City of Fremantle Town Hall, High Street Mall, Fremantle, Western Australia


Traffic in the Wet, Cnr High & Market Streets, Fremantle, Western AustraliaMarket Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Arcade, Adelaide Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Beer’s Buildings 1924, Cnr Parry Street and South Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia


“Beware of the Wife”, Essex Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Bistrot Café, Henry Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Bon Scott Memorial, Mews Road, Fremantle, Western Australia

Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott (9 July 1946 – 19 February 1980) was an Australian singer who was the second lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band AC/DC from 1974-1980.

Brass Plates, Fremantle, Western Australia


Discarded Shoes on Lamp Post, Cnr High & Market Streets, Fremantle, Western Australia


Entrance Arch, Fremantle Markets, Henderson Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Façade, WA Shipwrecks Museum, Cliff Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Fishing Boat Harbour, Fremantle, Western Australia


Fishing Fleet, Fishing Boat Harbour, Fremantle, Western Australia


Flight Club Sign, South Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia

Former Newcastle Club Hotel, South Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia

aka The Newport and now The Flight Club

Foley Hall Gates, Mouat Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Fremantle Angel’s House, Cnr Essex Street & Essex Lane, Fremantle, Western Australia


High Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Historical Marker, Union Stores Building, Cnr High & Henry Streets, Fremantle, Western Australia

The building is now occupied by "New Edition Bookshop".

“Imperial Chambers”, Market Street, Fremantle, Western Australia

See in situ


Loading Door, Norfolk Hotel, Cnr Norfolk Street and South Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia

The Norfolk Hotel is located on the corner of South Terrace and Norfolk Street in Fremantle, Western Australia. The stone built hotel was originally constructed in 1887 before the 1893 Kalgoorlie gold rush, for George Alfred Davies, a vintner, local councillor and Mayor of Fremantle. For most of its life it was known as the Oddfellows Hotel; it was renamed when it was substantially renovated in 1985.

Original Construction

Night Safe, Former ANZ Bank Premises, High Street, Fremantle, Western Australia

Once used by business customers to lodge their takings outside of banking hours

Notre Dame University, Mouat Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Heritage Building, Cnr High & Market Streets, Fremantle, Western Australia


Penny Farthing Sculpture, Mews Road, Fremantle, Western Australia


Pool Tables, Bar Orient, Cnr High & Henry Streets, Fremantle, Western Australia


Pressed Tin Ceiling, High Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Recycle or Landfill, Market Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Heritage Signs, Court House, Marine Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia


“Absorbed by Light”, Newman Court, Fremantle, Western Australia

Created to encourage reflection on society's increasing reliance on technology, depicting three figures engrossed in what appear to be smartphones. - BRITISH artist Gali May Lucas

38 Adelaide Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


82 High Street, Fremantle, Western Australia

Now used by a chemist, this building was formerly occupied by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Wesley Uniting Church, Cnr Market & Cantonment Streets, Fremantle, Western Australia  [c.1888]


Under the Verandah, Market Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Turret, Cliff Street, Fremantle, Western Australia


Albany, Denmark & Surrounds, Western Australia

On November 1 1914, the first convoy of Australian and New Zealand soldiers, soon to be known as the ANZACs, steamed out of King George Sound in Albany. There were 38 ships in total in that first convoy – 36 of them leaving Albany on the 1st of November 1914. The remaining two steamed out of Fremantle.

Beach Access, Waterfall Beach, William Bay, Denmark, Western Australia

Wikipedia History

South-West Weekend

We took a four day trip to the South-West of Western Australia as a “Winter Break”. We stayed in Pemberton and visited Walople, The Valley of the Giants, Manjimup and Nannup.

[see MAP here]


Pub Window, Pemberton Hotel, Brockman Street, Pemberton, Western Australia


Tree Trunk, Brockman Street, Pemberton, Western Australia


105 mm Artillery Piece from Vietnam Way 1964

War Memorial, Brockman Street, Pemberton, Western Australia


Alfresco, Brockman Street, Pemberton, Western Australia


Pemberton Artscape, Brockman Street, Pemberton, Western Australia

Pemberton Arts Group has completed the Pemberton Artscape, an 80 metre balustrade along the main street of Pemberton together with a children’s project of complementary pavers, all with the theme of the original forest landscape of the district.


“Chimneys”, Old School Building, Brockman Street, Pemberton, Western Australia

Old Timber Workers’ Cottage, Brockman Street, Pemberton, Western Australia


Water Feature, Mottram Street, Manjimup, Western Australia


War Memorial, Giblett Street, Manjimup, Western Australia


Railway Station, Pemberton Tramway Company, Railway Crescent, Pemberton, Western Australia


V Class 2-8-2 Mikado Type Steam Locomotive 1213, Pemberton Tramway, Pemberton, Western Australia

Read the full history


Abandoned Firebox, Pemberton Tramway, Railway Crescent, Pemberton, Western Australia


Derelict Rail Stock, Pemberton Tramway, Railway Crescent, Pemberton, Western Australia


“Sleepers”, Pemberton Tramway, Railway Crescent, Pemberton, Western Australia


Tree Top Walk, Valley of the Giants, Tingledale, Walpole, Western Australia


Ancient Empire Walk Trail, Valley of the Giants, Tingledale, Walpole, Western Australia

The Ancient Empire is a 450 metre walk trail that takes you around and through an ancient and unique red tingle forest. Some of the giant tingle trees including the most popular of the gnarled veterans, known as Grandma Tingle. The trail follows the story of the lost era of Gondwana.


Distance View, John Rate Lookout, South West Highway, Walpole, Western Australia


Misty Morning, Vasse Highway, Beedleup, Pemberton, Western Australia


War Memorial, Warren Road, Nannup, Western Australia


Derelict Chain-Link Fence & Gate, Warren Road, Nannup, Western Australia


Nannup Hotel, Warren Road, Nannup, Western Australia


“Cafe”, Warren Road, Nannup, Western Australia


All Saints Anglican Church, Warren Road, Nannup, Western Australia


Railway Bogie, Lions Timber Park, Brockman Highway, Nannup, Western Australia


Old Steam Engine, Lions Timber Park, Warren Road, Nannup, Western Australia


Logs on Rail Bogies, Warren Road, Nannup, Western Australia


Jarrah Burl, Lions Timber Park, Warren Road, Nannup, Western Australia


Marinko Thomas Memorial, Warren Road, Nannup, Western Australia


Footbridge, Blackwood River, Nannup, Western Australia


Flooded, Blackwood River, Nannup, Western Australia


39 Warren Road, Nannup, Western Australia

[Now the office for an Estate Agency]


Standing Alone, Vasse Highway, Nannup Mill, Nannup, Western Australia


Local Wildlife, Vasse Highway, Channybearup, Beedelup, Western Australia


Jetty, Swimming Pool, Swimming Pool Road, Pemberton, Western Australia



Tin Horse Highway

The Tin Horse ‘Highway’ is a 15 kilometre stretch of road in Western Australia which heads east from the town of Kulin out to the Kulin Bush Races Track at Jilakin Rock. There are currently over 70 tin horses displayed on the Tin Horse Highway, in the town site of Kulin and along other roads to Kulin.




Location of the “Tin Horse Highway”


Images of Mining & Life from the Past – VII


The final contribution of the collection of old images of the early mining days in the northern goldfields of Western Australia, mainly the old Sons of Gwalia Mine at Leonora but also many of other surrounding places.

See this link for a map showing Leonora and Gwalia


Sonsa Dean Din Ras 1909

An Afghan who lived along Nambi Road and had his own personal mosque

 

Oroya Black Range Gold Mine, Sandstone 1908

 

Smoke Stack

(The State Hotel in Gwalia is visible to the left)

 

Machinery Shed, Sons of Gwalia Mine

 

Sons of Gwalia 1977

The mine was liquidated in 1963 and did not reopen again until 1982. The new entity operated the mine until its being placed into administration in 2004

 

Images Circa 1963

 

Maintenance near Headframe 1941

 

Mine View 1941

 

1907

 

Working Underground

 

Tool Sharpeners

 

Train Station, Gwalia

 

Mine 1926

 

Underground Shift

 

Atop the Gas Producers, Looking Towards the State Hotel

 

Tower Street 1905

The building to the right is the National Bank of Australasia – Now the Tourist & Information Bureau (See Here for today image)

 

“Ken”

Woodline locomotive in what today is the rear car park of the mine offices.

Ken’s Parking Spot During a Rainstorm in 2012

 

 

Images Associated with the Woodlines

Woodlines

Large quantities of timber are required for the development and running of the gold mines. This timber was not available locally and so a transport problem arose. The material required had to be shipped from its source to the lease and the best way considered to do this was by a small railway. An application was made for the constructing of the tramway and this was later granted to the Company.

The total area covered by the woodline was approximately 800 square miles. 4000 miles of 20″ gauge track. Only sufficient track was maintained to operate a few spur lines at one time. As an area became exhausted, the track was lifted (in sections complete with mulga log sleepers) and relaid in another area. The spur lines were laid 2 miles apart so that woodcutters were always within 1 mile of the track. The mulga cut was the fuel source for Sons of Gwalia Mine. About 30,000 tons of mulga of wood per year. The wood was used as fuel for boilers producing steam for the winder and to make producer gas for the engines in the power house. These engines drove the alternators generating the mines electricity and compressors producing the compressed air required. Woodline camps were very spartan. Each woodcutter had a small canvas hut with iron roof, which could be lifted onto a railway timber wagon and moved to the next campsite. Bough sheds were erected around the huts for additional shade and pens for chickens and goats were re-erected at each new campsite. Now, remains of bough sheds indicate the location of a campsite. Although a predominantly male occupation, some woodcutters had their families with them.

Washout of the Line at Lake Raeside

Railing Water 1941

Aerial – State Hotel in the background

The current mine offices are today located in the vacant plot in the centre of this image

Winder Wheels

Gold Pouring 1906

 

The Winder

Before the Fire in 1921

Leonora

 

Sons of Gwalia Mine 1949

 

Wooden Head Frame

 

Tram Car and Barn 1905

 

Tram 1903

 

Station Creek Homestead 1904

 

Trucks in Tower Street, Leonora

 

Todd Bros Coach Factory

 

The Mail Car

 

The Workers Club 1920

 

The Old Hotel Murrin Murrin 1905

 

The Smelter, Annaconda Copper Mine, Eulaminna 1900

 

Tatterstalls Hotel Mt Morgans

 

Sandalwood Cutters, Wilsons Patch

 

Unknown



Images of Mining & Life from the Past – VI


Part 6 of the continuing collection of old images of the early mining days in the northern goldfields of Western Australia, mainly the old Sons of Gwalia Mine at Leonora but also many of other surrounding places.

See this link for a map showing Leonora and Gwalia


Work Shed, Sons of Gwalia Mine

 

Stripping Timber for Transportation to the Mine

 

Underground Ore Cars

Timber for Boilers on Rail Cars

Workers Taking a Break

Woodline Steam Engines

 

Timber Stockpile

 

Woodline Trains Used for Staff Picnic

 

Sleeping Outdoors?

 

Parade Outside the White House Hotel, Tower Street, Leonora

Car Outside the White House Hotel

 

Mine Sites

 

Unknown Goldfields Hotel

 

Sons of Gwalia Mine 1963

 

Battery Fire 1921

 

Railway Hotel, Murrin Murrin

 

Gathered for a Race Meeting at Darlot

 

Gwalia Mine Manager’s House late 1920s

 

Police Party

 

P Hill’s Central Hotel, Tower Street, Leonora

Ore Carriages at the Decline

 

Parade Tower Street, Leonora 1903

 

Full Load on the Leonora Tram 1908

 

Gwalia Open Cut

 

Similar View in 2015

Mine Manager’s House Behind Open Cut

 

Similar View in 2012

 

Headframe on the Edge of the Open Cut

 

“Zion City”, The Miners Camp, Mertondale, Western Australia, 1905

 

Yundaminderra Battery 1937

 

Arrival of Morgan’s Minstrels, Yundaminderra



Images of Mining & Life from the Past – V


Another installment of the collection of old images of the early mining days in the northern goldfields of Western Australia, mainly the old Sons of Gwalia Mine at Leonora but also many of other surrounding places.

See this link for a map showing Leonora and Gwalia


Views of Sons of Gwalia Mine over Many Years

 

Gwalia Landscape from Mt Leonora

 

Bulldozer Clearing Land

 

Car Outside the White House Hotel

 

Outing on New Year’s Day 1914

 

Gold Display, National Bank of Australia, Malcolm (Pistols on table!)

 

“Painless” Haircuts at Murrin Murrin

 

Donkey Cart Murrin Murrin 1905

 

Headframe at Mt Morgans Mine 1896

 

Mt Morgans Volunteer Fire Brigade

 

Mt Morgans Mine 1930

 

Magazine (Explosives Store) Mt Morgans 1896

 

Mt Morgans Cricket Club

 

Camel Train Hauling Firewood, Mt Morgans (not a tree in sight)

 

Hill’s Malcolm Hotel

 

Moving Town, Malcolm (Always take the pub with you)

 

Donkey Team Transporting Firewood

 

Mine Workers

 

Wood Train

 

Mine Workers at Mt Morgans

 

Mine at Lawlers

 

Gwalia Aerials 1956

 

Mine Workers 1930

 

Retail Centre

 

“Midland”

Convent of Mercy School 1932

 

Bank of New South Wales

Built 1939 – closed 1943 and then occupied by National Bank of Australia until 1966

Leinster Mine



Images of Mining & Life from the Past – IV


More of the collection of old images of the early mining days in the northern goldfields of Western Australia, mainly the old Sons of Gwalia Mine at Leonora but also many of other surrounding places.

See this link for a map showing Leonora and Gwalia


Leonora 1910

 

Aerial of Hoover House

 

Earlier History of the Sons of Gwalia Mine

The Gwalia mine was originally established in 1897 by Herbert Hoover, who later became the 31st President of the United States.
St Barbara restarted mining at Gwalia in 2008 and has produced more than two million ounces of gold
Mining at Gwalia is planned to reach a depth of 2,300 metres below the surface by 2031

 

Captioned: Fowler with Mr P Franchine & Mr W Allen

 

Flooding at Malcom in 1927

 

Captioned: First Motor Car – Dr Bertram Will & Bob Thompson

 

Merton’s Reward – Note the Pistol!

 

Views of Merton’s Reward

 

Mertondale Football Club

 

Butcher in Mertondale 1905

 

Menzies Volunteer Fire Brigade 1909

 

Rail Workers

 

Mine Workers

 

Mary & Doreen

 

Malcolm Townsite

 

Malcolm Hotel

 

Malcolm Brewery 1902

 

Lawlers 1929

 

Mail Runs

 

Underground Miners

 

Leonora Early Days

 

Leonora Tramway

 

Leonora Railway Station

 

Leonora State School – Opening 1908

 

Leonora State School 1910

 

Tree Planting

 

Watching the Game – Leonora Sports Ground

 

School Bus Run in front of The State Hotel, Gwalia

 

Manoeuvering a Building into Place – Leonora



Images of Mining & Life from the Past – III


Continuing the collection of old images of the early mining days in the northern goldfields of Western Australia, mainly the old Sons of Gwalia Mine at Leonora but also many of other surrounding places.

See this link for a map showing Leonora and Gwalia


The Underground Access – Sons of Gwalia Mine

 

Horse Rider is Les Willey, with the Owner Bill Biggs Circa 1940s

 

“Dick & Mary” in Mine Manager’s House Swimming Pool

 

Mine Manager’s House Swimming Pool

 

Mine Manager’s House

It was much later named after Herbert Hoover the first future president of America who was the first mine manager. It was completed after he left Leonora and never lived here.

 

Sons of Gwalia Mine Headframe

 

The Sons of Gwalia Mine – Late 1950s

 

The Gwalia State School 1948

 

School Master’s House 1948

 

Aerial View of the Public Pool, Gwalia

This was reputedly the first public swimming pool in Western Australia. It also doubled as a fire fighting water supply for the mine.

 

Aerial View of the Gwalia Open Cut

 

Early Days of the Open Cut

 

Gwalia Methodist School Picnic 1919

 

Groups of Sons of Gwalia Employees

 

“Italian Motor Racing Cyclists” 1932

 

Gwalia Heaframe Beyond a New Pit

 

Crash!

 

“Gum Creek”, Lawlers.

Prospectors left Cue in the Murchison Goldfields and found gold at what is now Lawlers in 1892. Lawlers is about 160 km (100 miles) north of Leonora

 

Scenes from Great Western Mine, Wilson’s Patch

Wilson’s Patch was about 70 Km (42 miles) north of Leonora on the road to Agnew.

 

Outside Great Western Hotel

 

“Gold Dinner” – Mt Malcolm

 

A Group of Well Dressed Gentlemen

 

The 4 o’clock Shift

 

Engineering

 

Fitters’ Shop 1932

 

Leonora Municipal Tramcar 1903

 

The Last Tram Run in 1915

 

Lawlers Hotel

 

Small Steam Engine used on the Mine

 

Lapsley’s Drays, Doyles Well

 

Jack Mahomet’s Camel-Train 1930

 

Inside the Gwalia Mine Manager’s House 1921

 

Imperial Hotel, Malcolm

 

Great Eastern Hotel, Lawlers 1921