Tag: Murrin

Population of the Northern Goldfields – 1905

Kookynie c1900

Editors Note: This very informative article is reproduced from the Kookynie Press.1

We [the newspaper] recently obtained fascinating population statistics for the North Coolgardie district, courtesy of Inspector Woods, detailing the population as compiled by the police up to June 30. These figures offer a crucial look at the shifting fortunes of the Northern Goldfields communities.

The Overall Trend: A Net Loss for the Region

Compared to the statistics compiled the previous year, the North Coolgardie district as a whole has experienced a loss of 256 people.

While some centers managed to hold steady or even grow, others saw significant decreases in population. Menzies, for instance, managed to remain the same.

The most substantial population losses were recorded in:

  • Kookynie, showing a significant drop of 559 residents.
  • Morgans, which lost 132 residents.
  • Malcolm, which saw a decrease of 125 residents.

However, the outlook was much brighter for several key towns, demonstrating that growth continues in specific pockets of the goldfields. Towns reporting major increases include:

  • Leonora, which gained 240 people.
  • Laverton, which grew by 230 people.
  • Gwalia, which added 100 people.

Substantial increases were also recorded in the areas of Murrin and Yundamindera.

Detailed Population Statistics by District

The following tables provide the detailed breakdown of the population in the North Coolgardie district as of June 30, 1905.

MENZIES DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Menzies9984673791,844
Woolgar1445255251
Comet Vale113721
Goongarrle6091079
Mt Ida941515124
TOTAL1,3075464662,314

KOOKYNIE DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Kookynie1,0202201751,415
Champion50151883
Britannia1951034
Puzzle112215
Niagara1503122203
Tampa304640
Yerilla10054109
TOTAL1,3902822411,915

MALCOLM DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Malcolm2509060400
Webster’s Find60201090
Mertondale2406020320
Dis. gen.811527123
TOTAL631185117933

GWALIA DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Gwalia585185160930

LEONORA DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Leonora395196140731
Tower Hill93113107
Dis. gen.3374531413
TOTAL8252521741,251

YUNDAMINDERA DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Yund’m’n’dra1674548260
Edjudina1152324162
Pingin572059
Dis. gen.853492
TOTAL4247376573

MURRIN DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Murrin3703329432

MORGANS DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Morgans6652821381,085
Dis gen.103118122
TOTAL7682931461,207

LAVERTON DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Laverton2056041306
Euro82313
Craiggiemore55172496
Lancefteld1602036216
Augusta203427
Ida H.802225127
Hawke’s Nest200020
Erlston dis.3382716371
TOTAL8861511491,196

BURTVILLE DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Burtville2284230300

SIR SAMUEL DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Sir Samuel41310069582

LAWLERS DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Lawlers430130110670
Cue’s Patch1151613144
Darlot1402214176
Dis. gen.3084117366
TOTAL9932091541,356

BLACK RANGE DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Black Range921911122
Dis. gen.4632423510
TOTAL5554334632

DAVYHURST DISTRICT

LocationMalesFemalesChildrenTotal
Davyhurst62598125848
Callion101213
Siberia Soak6129
Mulwarrie47121372
Ullaring192021
Mulline1302422176
Riverina4851063
TOTAL8851431801,208

Sources

  1. Population of the Northern Goldfields. (1905, July 15). Kookynie Press (WA : 1903 – 1911), p. 1. Retrieved December 15, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article251123991 ↩︎

Symonds or Simounds?

A group of people posing for a photo Description automatically generated

This is a delightful wedding group, with the bride, Miss Maggie Symonds, wearing “…a pretty dress of white silk with point lace, a tulle veil, and a coronet of orange blossoms…the presents were both numerous and costly”. Some 80 guests partook of breakfast, then attended a ball in the evening at the Anaconda Hotel1, 2,3.

Less than a year before, Alfred Frederick Thompson, her new husband, the landlord at the Anaconda Hotel, was in custody, charged with unlawfully shooting and wounding John Clinton. He was acquitted – it was decided that he needed to protect himself with a revolver against some of his customers who were “attempting to take possession of the hotel”. This was definitely the Wild West, and one wonders if his bride was prepared for this behaviour, not uncommon, and including “outrages with dynamite” on the billiard hall and also the hotel4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Over time, Anaconda has been known by various names, including Eulaminna, Murrin and Murrin Murrin. Lots were originally surveyed in 1900 to serve the nearby Murrin Murrin Copper Mine that was known as the Anaconda Copper Mine at the time. By 1903 there were 64 residential lots and a population of about 350. A Police Station was also established in 1903 and the town boasted two hotels, two stores a chemist and a newsagent. A mail receiver was in place but no telegraph station.

Researchers – if this is your family, the bride’s name is misspelled – she is really Margaret Robina (or Rosina) Simounds. If you know more about this family, please let us know at ghostswa@fhwa.org.au.

Sources

  1. Kalgoorlie Western Argus, 1903. District News. Published 29 Sep 1903, p.12. Retrieved 23 Oct 2024 from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32734679?searchTerm=Maggie%20Symonds ↩︎
  2. Kalgoorlie Miner, 1903. Wedding at Anaconda. Published 26 Sep 1903, p.4. Retrieved 23 Oct 2024 from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88873557?searchTerm=Maggie%20Symonds ↩︎
  3.  Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 – 1916),(1903, October 20) Wedding Group, Anaconda, Murrin Murrin. Thompson-Symnonds. p. 23. Retrieved October 25, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4123379 ↩︎
  4. SHOOTING AFFRAY AT ANACONDA (1902, March 7). The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser (WA : 1897 – 1905), p. 3. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228044349 ↩︎
  5. Shooting Affray. (1902, March 13). The Evening Star (Boulder, WA : 1898 – 1921), p. 3. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203481548 ↩︎
  6. News of the Week. (1902, March 14). The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser (WA : 1897 – 1905), p. 2. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228044368 ↩︎
  7. MALCOLM POLICE COURT. (1902, March 21). The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser (WA : 1897 – 1905), p. 3. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228044382 ↩︎
  8. THE ANACONDA FRACAS. (1902, March 28). The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser (WA : 1897 – 1905), p. 2. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228044400 ↩︎
  9. THE ANACONDA FRACAS. (1902, June 27). The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser (WA : 1897 – 1905), p. 3. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228044723 ↩︎