Leonora, which lies 230km north of Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, is in the
traditional lands of the Wongatha people.
The area was named in 1869, by explorer and Government surveyor John (later Sir) Forrest.
The Wongatha people are
comprised of the eight Aboriginal Australian peoples of the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia.
According to Jared Diamond's book “Guns, Germs and Steel - The Fates of Human Societies”, 40,000 years ago, Native Australian societies enjoyed a big start over societies of Europe and other continents.
Native Australians developed some of the earliest stone tools with ground edges, the earliest hafted stone tools (stone ax with handles), and by far the earliest watercraft, in the world. Some of the oldest known painting on rock surfaces comes from Australia. Anatomically modern humans may have settled Australia before they settled western Europe.
Until about 13, 000 years ago, most people across the world were living more or less as hunter-gatherer societies, in small mobile groups.
Hunting and gathering of food sources usually demands very large areas of land; it has been estimated that people who depend on such methods generally require 18 to 1,300 square km (7 to 500 square miles) of land per capita, depending on the environmental conditions.
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| Aboriginal men Men hunted larger mammals and birds such as kangaroo, wallaby and emu |
Fire-stick farming was another strategy for food production and land management, usually during the cold-time.
Aboriginal women mostly
collected the seeds for eating, and young girls would learn how to
collect and process the seeds and about the spiritual importance of the foods. Other important information learned were the reading of animal tracks and the use of digging sticks.
Different Aboriginal groups and languages use a variety
of words to express the idea of the Dreamtime, which is the foundational concept for the Aboriginal religious belief system. The Dreamtime, believed to exist in the distant past, was a time of extraordinary happenings and creation, when mythical beings created the natural world and
made the rules for ritual practices and behaviour. These ideas and beliefs were passed down the generations through oral tradition.
Wongatha, a Western Desert language is still spoken today and native speakers are generally able to understand the various closely related dialects.
1616
In October 1616, Dirk Hartog in the Eendracht, a Dutch East India Company ship, became the first European to set foot on the western shores of Australia.
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| Australia's oldest European maritime relic is a Dutch pewter dish that was nailed to a timber post 400 years ago on remote Dirk Hartog Island in Shark Bay. |
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| TERRA DEL ZUR. An early Dutch mop of Australia dating from between 1629 (the year of the wreck of Pelsort's Batavia) and 1636, probably drown by Blaeu who studied navigation and geography under Galileo in Florence. Australia is given the half Portuguese and half Spanish name of Terra del Zur-the Land of the South. The map was published not many years after Dirck Hartog's voyage in the Éendraght.Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954) |
1829
Perth was founded by Captain James Stirling as the capital of the Swan River Colony in 1829.
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| Captain (later Sir) James Stirling was the first Governor of the Colony of Western Australia, from 30 December 1828 until 2 January 1839 |
As Australian Aboriginal people were isolated from the rest of humanity for at least 50,000 years and lived in dispersed groups, infectious diseases were probably not very problematic.
However, Europeans, who had developed agriculture and domesticated animals, had been exposed to various zoonotic diseases and developed immunity to them over thousands of years. These diseases
travelled with them had terrible impacts on Aboriginal people.
Aboriginal people mostly believed that these diseases
developed from sorcery and other supernatural causes.
1850s
From 1850, convicts began
to arrive in Western Australia and began to build roads, other buildings and infrastructure.
1860s
In 1869, John Forrest an Australian explorer camped near Leonora-Gwalia during a search for the lost German explorer and scientist Ludwig Leichhardt, who had disappeared twenty years earlier. Forrest
called the area "
unpromising" country. It can still be a challenging and harsh environment.
Forrest, however, named the nearby 420-metre high hill, Mount Leonora, after his six-year-old niece Frances (Fanny) Leonora Hardey.
John Forrest later became the first Premier of Western Australia and a cabinet minister in Australia's first federal parliament.
1890s
In June 1893, Edward "Doodah" Sullivan and Ted Bowden found gold near Doyle’s Well. Sullivan and his partner Harry Widdick pegged the first gold lease in the Mt Leonora area and named it the "Johannesburg Lease".
In 1894, a gold rush occurred when Patrick (Paddy) Lawler, along with partners W. Gibson, Moses, Nevin and Donnelly, found alluvial gold 125km north-west of Leonora.
Later in 1895, a tent store opened in Leonora, and a shanty town of corrugated iron, bush timber shacks, lined with hessian, was developing. Many miners, however, chose to live on the mining leases at nearby
Gwalia.
Edward "Doo-dah" Sullivan died in 1896 aged 36 years. He was a prospector and barrow-man, who first found gold
near Leonora in March 1896.
1896, a Cobb & Co. mail service was operating to and from Coolgardie owned by James Nicholas, (Gina Rinehart's maternal grandfather) and Sidney Kidman from Leonora.
Leonora Hotel, built of hessian and timber opened in 1896.
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| Leonora Township, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Friday 28 October 1898 |
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| Leonora Progress Committee, Menzies Miner (WA : 1896 - 1901), Saturday 15 July 1899 |
Mining BoomThe Leonora-Gwalia area soon became the largest mining centre in the north-eastern Goldfields, with shops and
hotels opening to serve the growing population. In 1898, the town was gazetted, and became a municipality two years later.
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Leonora public battery, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Friday 5 May 1899
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1899, the "Mount Leonora Miner" newspaper was first produ
ced. The police station and the sergeant's
house were built in 1899.
A private school opened in Mount Leonora, 1899.
1900s
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| LOCAL TEAM PLAYING "THE RATS" MT. LEONORA, WA, Coolgardie Pioneer (WA : 1895 - 1901), Saturday 1 December 1900 |
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| COBB & CO.'S COACH LEAVING MT. LEONORA, WA, Coolgardie Pioneer (WA : 1895 - 1901), Saturday 1 December 1900 |
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| Coolgardie Pioneer (WA : 1895 - 1901), Saturday 1 December 1900 |
Future President
In 1901, Herbert Hoover, future president of the USA, became a partner in Bewick Moreing & Co, that owned the controlling interest in the Sons of Gwalia Mine.
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| Herbert Hoover, aged 23; taken in Perth, Western Australia, in 1898. Future Presiden. tIn 1901, Herbert Hoover, future president of the USA, became a partner in Bewick Moreing & Co, that owned the controlling interest in the Sons of Gwalia Mine. |
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| Natives of West Australian goldfields - very early 1900s. This is a postcard with a French stamp. PD. |
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| MR \V. P. VALKENBURG'S GENERAL STORE. LEONORA, WA, Wednesday 25 December 1901 |
Police TrackersAboriginal people often served as police trackers, drovers and animal herders, in the region.
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| Mounted Aboriginal police tracker, near Leonora, circa 1901, State Library WA |
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| Aboriginal group at Leonora,WA, circa 1901, State Library of WA |
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| Group of WA Aboriginals and black tracker, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 29 October 1901 |
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MR. W. A LOWES'S HOTEL CENTRAL, LEONORA. Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Wednesday 25 December 1901
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| Tower Street, Leonora, W. A. - early 1900s |
Rail Connection
On the 20th June 1902, a rail connection to Kalgoorlie
began operating. The steam-tram line to Gwalia opened on 6th October 1903.
In 1902, Leonora-Gwalia had a
population of more than 1500 (most living at Gwalia).
The first water scheme in the Leonora area was completed in 1902. Water was pumped by a large windmill to a reservoir on top of Tank ("Smoodgers") Hill and then reticulated around the town.
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| Leonora Hospital, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 9 December 1902 |
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Tower Street Leonora looking south, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Thursday 25 December 1902
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| Opening of theLeonora-Gwalia tramway, which took place on October 6, 1903, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 24 October 1903 |
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| Leonora, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 15 December 1903 |
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| On 6 October 1903 the Leonora to Gwalia tramline was officially opened. Kalgoorlie Western Argus; 27 October 1903 |
The Town DevelopsBy 1903-04, Leonora had an "efficient" private school called Miss Irene Wigg's School, though in the following year, only the Dominican convent
school was operating.
Two Dominican nuns ran the primary and secondary school in the church and also
provided “finishing classes” for young ladies and taught them the finer points of music, painting, needlework, singing and art.
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| DISTRIBUTION OF BL.ANKETS TO NATIVES, L.AKE DARLOT. Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 1 August 1905 |
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| Post office, Leonora, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 1 July 1905 |
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| POLICE STATION AND COURTHOUSE, LEONORA, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 1 July 1905 |
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| MAIN REEF GOLD NfINE. LEONORA, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 20 June 1905 |
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| GROUP OF EMPLOYEES, LEONORAMAIN REEF_ GOLD MINE. LEONORA, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 20 June 1905 |
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| Hospital and staff, Leonora, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 11 December 1906 |
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| Tower Street, Leonora, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 20 November 1906 |
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| Leonora Fire Brigade, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 11 December 1906 |
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| Tennis Club, Leonora, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 7 February 1905 |
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| Leonora Football Team, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 11 December 1906 |
The Sons of Gwalia School was relocated to Leonora in June 1906.
Andresen's General Store in Tower Street, Leonora, was originally a general store with a liquor licence. It was later a barber's and tobacconists with a billiard saloon at the rear, and later still, a meeting hall.
In 1908 the Leonora-Gwalia electric tram was installed and the power plant provided sufficient energy for electric lighting in the streets and to private customers.
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| Opening of the Leonora electric tramway system, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 7 November 1908 |
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| Mt. Leonora Miner (WA : 1899 - 1910), Saturday 12 September 1908 |
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| ENGINES. STATION CREEK WATER SCHEME, LEONORA. Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 3 November 1908 |
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| Gas producers, Leonora Electric Tram and Lighting, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 3 November 1908 |
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| "WHEN SHALL WE THREE MEET AGAIN?" Photograph of Pipe Major Donald MacCormack standing beside a man with dwarfism, and a mule and cart outside Malcolm Downie's Gents Outfitter store in Leonora, Western Australia. Another Kiltie holds the reins on the wagon, and several men and boys stand by looking on. One of a series of photographs from an album of the Kilties' world tour. Community Archives , 1909 |
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| STATION CREEK RESERVOIR, LEONORA. Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 9 February 1909 |
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Photograph of members of the Kilties, a man with dwarfism, and a mule and cart outside Malcolm Downie's Gents Outfitter store in Leonora, Western Australia. Community Archives (July 29, 1909)
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| Photograph of a camel team in Leonora, Western Australia, with members of the Kilties. Community Archives (July 29, 1909) |
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| Camel team. Leonora, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 4 January 1910 |
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| At home on the goldfields at Leonora, WAWestern Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 28 January 1911 |
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| LEONORA FIRE BRIGADE CRICKET CLUB, PREMIERS 1913-14, AND WINNERS OF THE JOHNSON CUP. Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Friday 1 May 1914 |
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| Leonora Municipal Tram in Leonora, W.A. - circa 1910. Leonora had a single track passenger tramway linking the town and nearby Gwalia, from 1901 to 1921. Initially steam driven, the service was electric from November 1908, and petrol powered from 1915. Aussie Mobs |
WWI
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PTE. J. A. O'DONOHUE, Wounded. Well known in Leonora, also Boulder City, where he worked
for Lane Bros. GALLANT HEROES OF THE DARDANELLS, Sun (Kalgoorlie, WA : 1898 - 1929), Sunday 6 June 1915 |
In 1916, M. Moran stated in evidence during a court case that he was a cordial manufacturer residing at Leonora.
1920s
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| Shop guttered by fire, Leonora, WA, Sun (Kalgoorlie, WA : 1898 - 1929), Sunday 5 August 1923 |
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| Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954), Sunday 17 May 1925 |
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| "A. at Leonora", Western Australia, 19 September 1929, Donna Barber |
1930s
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| Snowy and Linda Barnes marry in Leonora, 23 October 1933, State Library WA |
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| Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954), Sunday 17 May 1936 |
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| NOW AT LEONORA. Constable Jones, of Leonora, better known to fight fans as "Boyo" Burns, who holds the State Light-Heavyweight Championship title.North Midland Times (Moora, WA : 1933 - 1954), Friday 24 July 1936 |
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| Popular Leonora identity, mr Peter Hill with his racehorse, Merrie Youth, Preston Mail and District Advocate (Collie, WA : 1932 - 1953), Saturday 6 March 1937 |
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| The first baker, Scotty Clarke, the first store-keeper, Ted Shannon, Jack Andresen, storekeeper, and Smith, Clarke's partner (Clarke and Smith). In the front row are Mrs. Phlavin' (In the sun bonnet) the first woman in Leonora, and Mrs. Shannon, first ladies' outfitter. OLD LEONORA, Bridgetown. Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Thursday 2 December 1937 |
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| Donkey Team at Leonora, WA. Illustrated above is a team of 38 donkeys being driven by Mr. Johnstone on the road between Doyle's Well and Leonora. The capacity of the tank is 25,000 gallons and weighs seven tons.Preston Mail and District Advocate (Collie, WA : 1932 - 1953), Saturday 28 November 1936 |
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The utmost in.comfort and reliability are incorporated in this new Dodge ambulance, recently supplied to the Leonora Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association. Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954), Sunday 4 April 1937 |
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| Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954), Sunday 29 June 1941 |
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W45284 Cpl I. A. Mills, Leonora. Women in Uniform |
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| TX3133 Dvr. E. H. Cowan. Leonora. Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Thursday 3 July 1941 |
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| AUSTRALIAN native James Brennan, who is a Tobruk Rat and former P.O.W. member of the 2/28th Battalion, was captured at Ruin Ridge, marries Myrtle, Goodilyer in St. George's Cathedral, Perth. Couple will make their home in Leonora where he will engage in mining. Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), Thursday 8 November 1945 |
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| LEONORA PREMlERS-1947. Leonora News (WA : 1944 - 1950), Friday 10 October 1947. See here |
1950s
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When a trolley broke away from a skip yesterday morninq and hurtled more than 650f1, down
the main underlay shalt of the Sons of Gwalla goldmine, WA, three men were killed and onetinjured. This picture, taken from the top of the mine, shows the skip (used to carry ore) readyto descend.West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Saturday 2 June 1951 |
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Corroboree Painting Mr J. M. Green, a native from Leonora, describes to girls of St. Hilda's College a painting by Elizabeth Durack, symbolic of a native corroboree now being held at Laverton. It is one of an exhibition of Miss Durack's paintings which are being displayed In Newspaper House. West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Friday 3 July 1953 |
1960s
Things ChangeThe Sons of Gwalia mine operated for 67 years until it closed in 1963; it was the largest mine outside the Golden Mile. Open cut and underground mining operations still occur near Leonora and the town is also an
administrative centre for surrounding pastoral industries.
However, just 5 kilometres north of Leonora, are the remains of Leonora Gold Blocks Mine, one of the first leases in the area. It has been permanently closed since 1927.
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| Adelaide Johnston (Yurabru), circa 1960. State Library of WA |
Tower Street, the charming main street of Leonora, has remained largely unchanged since the turn of the century. Leonora is also, a short distance from the fascinating ghost town of Gwalia, where you can wander around abandoned miners' cottages and marvel at the imposing building of the first hotel, built and run by a state government in Australia.
Around Leonora
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| View of the former National Bank of Australasia building, Tower Street, Leonora, Western Australia |
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| View of the Post Office, Tower Street, Leonora, Western Australia, Bahnfrend |
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| The Central Hotel was established in 1903, Leonora, Wa |
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| The White House Hotel opened at Leonora WA on New Years Day in 1903 |
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| View of the former Andresen's General Store, Tower Street, Leonora, Western Australia, Bahnfrend |
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| View of Tower Street, the part of Goldfields Highway that is also the main street of Leonora, Western Australia, Bahnfrend |
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| View of Tower Street, the part of Goldfields Highway that is also the main street of Leonora, Western Australia, Bahnfrend |
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| View of Tower Street, the part of Goldfields Highway that is also the main street of Leonora, Western Australia, Bahnfrend |
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| View of Tower Street, the part of Goldfields Highway that is also the main street of Leonora, Western Australia, Bahnfrend |
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| View of the former Barnes Federal Theatre, Tower Street, Leonora, Western Australia, Bahnfrend |
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| View of a row of shops in Tower Street, Leonora, Western Australia, Bahnfrend |
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| View of the former Mount Leonora Miner building, Tower Street, Leonora, Western Australia, Bahnfrend |
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| Leonora State Battery, WA, first established in 1898. Two 5-stamp presses, one wood framed andone of metal |
Things To Do and Places To Go
Leonora heritage Trail
Leonora Loop Trails
Patroni's Guest House
Gwalia Ghost Town & Museum
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