The ghost town of Kookynie (pronounced koo-ky-nee) located in the eastern goldfields, between Menzies and Leonora, WA, developed when gold was discovered in 1895. Today, explore the ruins and signposted walking trail.
The name Kookynie is believed to be of Aboriginal
origin meaning water hole or spring.
Aboriginal People of the Goldfields
There are various Native Title claims in the region, including: Nyalpa Pirniku, Badimaya Barna Guda and Darlot People.
Like most other Aboriginal groups, the Aboriginal people who lived around Kookynie moved about a defined area, with the seasonal availability of food.
Generally, there was a division of labour between men and women. Men hunted larger animals, kangaroos and emus, while women
collected seeds, dug for roots, and caught smaller animals, such as, lizards.
Aboriginal people would burn large tracts of land to flush out animals to hunt. The fire would also cause new growth, which would attract back animals such as kangaroos to be hunted.
As they moved about, Aboriginal people would construct temporary shelters made of bark, branches, leaves and grass.
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| Aboriginal people of Western Australian Goldfields, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Thursday 21 July 1898 |
1860s
The explorers John Forrest and Lindsay Wells encountered Aboriginal people in the Goldfields
region in 1869 and 1892.
1890s
Gold was first found in the area by W.A. Miller and other prospectors, who established the Englishman Lease in 1895.
Police Constable Glass noticed Aboriginal people camping at nearby Malcolm in November 1896.
The Niagara Dam in the Kookynie region was built by the Railways Department in 1897 – 1898 to provide fresh
water for the steam locomotives.
1900s
"Gold was first found at Kookynie ,shortly
after the Niagara rush, by Morgan and
Miller, who pegged out some of the
leases now held by the Cosmopolitan
Company. Almost simultaneous
with this discovery, a prospector named
Compton found good gold on what is,
now the Cumberland."Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 25 December 1900
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| GROUP OF KOOKYNIE CHILDREN, WHERE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS JUST PLANTED A SCHOOL, WA, (one Aboriginal boy in the group) Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 15 September 1900 |
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| Amoung the wildflowers at Kookynie, WA, Coolgardie Pioneer (WA : 1895 - 1901), Saturday 1 September 1900 |
Kookynie was gazetted as a town 1900 and named by Mr Beaumont, who
managed the Lady Shenton mine in Menzies, after Kookynie Station near Clare in South Australia.
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| Champion South Mine Extended, Kookynie, WA, Coolgardie Pioneer (WA : 1895 - 1901), Saturday 1 September 1900 |
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| Brittania Mine, Kookynie, WA, Coolgardie Pioneer (WA : 1895 - 1901), Saturday 1 September 1900, |
"Gwalia Mining Company. Leonora is at
present the proposed terminus of the
railway now in course of construction
from Kookynie."
1901 'MOUNT LEONORA.', Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954)
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| Cumberland Mine, Kookynie, WA. Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 8 October 1901 |
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| Champion Mine, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 8 October 1901 |
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| MR. T. CAMPBELL'S KOOKYNIE HOTEL, WA. Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Wednesday 25 December 1901 |
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| CUMBERLAND (NIAGARA) G.M., KOOKYNIE.--CHANGING SHIFT. WA. Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 9 July 1901 |
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| MESSRS. MONTGOMERY BROS.' KOOKYNIE BRANCH, WA. Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Wednesday 25 December 1901 |
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| Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Thursday 25 December 1902 |
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| General view of Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 9 December 1902 |
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| amain-street, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 9 December 1902 |
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| ENGINE ROOM AT THE COSMOPOLITAN GOLD MINE. KOOKYNIE. WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 9 December 1902 |
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| Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 9 December 1902 |
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| Kookynie, WA, branch, Silbert & Sharp, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Thursday 25 December 1902 |
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| Kookynie Press (WA : 1903 - 1911), Saturday 17 October 1903 |
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| Kookynie Press (WA : 1903 - 1911), Saturday 17 October 1903 |
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| Kookynie Press (WA : 1903 - 1911), Saturday 25 July 1903 |
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| Kookynie Advocate and Northern Goldfields News (WA : 1903 - 1904), Saturday 21 November 1903 |
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R J Rea, Kookynie, WA. ALL LOCAL PAPERS. Agent for The KOOKYNIE ADVOCATE. Best Brands of Tobacco and Cigars. Well Lighted Hair dressing Saloon. Large and Airy Billiard Saloon. Agent for Armstrong Cycles. 1903 |
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| STAFF. CHAMPIONGOLD MINE. KOOKYNIE, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 25 October 1904 |
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| Railway Station, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 19 January 1904 |
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| Cumberland St, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 19 January 1904 |
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| Post Office, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 19 January 1904, |
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SOME OF THE LADIES WHO MET THE GOVERNOR AND LADY BEDFORD ON 'THEIR VISIT TO KOOKYNIE, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 11 October 1904
The main employer at Kookynie in 1905 was Cosmopolitan Proprietary mine. Other mines included the Britannia and the Cumberland Niagara Champion Proprietary. |
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| Police Sation, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 19 September 1905 |
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| MANAGER'S RESIDENCE. COSMOPOLITAN GOLD) MINE, KOOKYNIE. WA. Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 29 August 1905, |
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| WA Bank, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 19 September 1905 |
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| The Union Bank, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 19 September 1905 |
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| Kookynie Press (WA : 1903 - 1911), Wednesday 22 March 1905 |
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| KOOKYNIE FIRE BRIGADE, WA. Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 23 December 1905 |
Electric lighting in the
town in 1905.
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| Electric lighting plant, Kookynie, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 23 September 1905 |
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KOOKYNIE (WA) RIFLE TEAM, WINNERS' OE THE DR. HACKETT
SPECIAL TROPHY.Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 21 January 1905 |
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| FOOTBAIl. TEAM.KOOKYNIE, WA. Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 15 August 1905 |
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| Kookynie Hospital, WA, 1905 |
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| M.J. O'KEEFE'S GRAND HOTEL, KOOKYNIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA - circa 1905, Aussie~mobs |
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| Kookynie Town Hall and Public Library, W.A. - very early 1900s, Aussie Mobs |
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| Camel team at Kookynie, W.A. - very early 1900s, Aussie Mobs |
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| Catholic Church, Kookynie, WA, early 1900s |
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| CONTRIBUTERS CHAMPION G.M., KOOKYNIE, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 30 October 1906 |
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| Public school, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 30 October 1906 |
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| A Kookynie novelty, an Irish jaunting car, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 27 March 1906 |
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| Cumberland Street, Kookoynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 20 November 1906 |
In 1907, there were over 3500 people living in Kookynie. There were 11 hotels, a brewery, shops,
various churches, two banks, two cordial factories, a school, a Government hospital, a race course, a public swimming pool and a daily train and coach service.
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| Kookynie Band, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 31 December 1907 |
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| Town Hall and Library, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 31 December 1907 |
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| Mirror (Perth, WA : 1907 - 1910), Saturday 15 June 1907 |
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| GROUP OF MINERS, COSMOPOLITAN GOLD 1IINE, KOOKYNIE, WA. Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 31 December 1907 |
Aborigines Department Inspector, C. A. Bailey, noted 20 Aboriginal people at Kookynie in 1908.
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| ISSUING GOVERNMENT RATIONS TO ABORIGINES (MALES) KOOKYNIE. WA. Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 28 January 1908 |
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| ISSUING GOVERNMENT RATIONS TO ABORIGINES (FEMALE), KOOKYNIE. WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 28 January 1908 |
Constable Dodd at Kookynie counted 200 Aboriginal people at Kookynie in 1909. He observed they "travel around & as the game becomes scarce & they cannot get sufficient food they move on to another part of their Country or District".
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| Shearing at Kookynie, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 24 December 1910 |
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| Kookynie Natives and their Mia Mia, WA,Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 17 December 1910, |
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| Police Station, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 2 August 1910 |
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| Machinery for the mines. A camel tram at Kookyie, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 15 July 1911 |
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| Cumberland Street, kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 17 January 1911 |
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| Hanging Rock, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 17 January 1911 |
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| Street view, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 18 April 1911 |
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| General view, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 17 January 1911 |
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| A donkey team, Kookynie, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 27 May 1911 |
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| Police and Native Trackers, Kookynie, WA, Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916), Tuesday 17 January 1911 |
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| Kookynie Hospital, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 18 March 1911 |
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| Montgomery's Store Kookynie, WA, 1912 |
WWI
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| Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954), Saturday 19 August 1916 |
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| Leonora Miner (WA : 1910 - 1928), Saturday 5 April 1919 |
1920s
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| A photograph of a mob of 500 selected Gums bred merino ewes and 1,500 ewe weaners railed from Terowie to Kookynie, Western Australia, for the Yundamindra Pastoral Company, Limited. Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 9 January 1926 |
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| Floods at Kookynie, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Thursday 7 April 1927 |
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| Breakdown train at Kookynie, Western Australia, 21 March 1929. Photograph by W.E. Fretwell, Donna Barber |
1940s and WWII
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Mrs. D. H. Palmer, of Perth, has been advised that her husband, Sgt.-Pilot David H. Palmer, lost his
life as a result of an aircraft accident in New Guinea. Sgt.-Pilot Palmer was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Palmer, of Blackwood, and he was born in that disitrict. He was educated at the Coromandel Valley public school and the Unley Technical school. Before the war Sgt.-Pilot Palmer was the proprietor of the Grand Hotel at Kookynie. WA. He en-listed in September, 1942.Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Saturday 1 July 1944 |
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| Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Thursday 15 September 1949 |
1950s
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| A party of natives go on tour in their camel cart, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Thursday 21 December 1950 |
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| Abandoned workings of the Cosmopolitan Mine, at Kookynie, WA, Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Thursday 21 December 1950 |
Around Kookynie
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| This horse "Willie" has made its home at the front door of the pub you have to push it out of the way to get into the pub it stands there all day. Kookynie, WA |
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| A prospectors dry blower, at Kookynie, WA, was wheeled from site to site. |
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| Cosmopolitan Hotel Ruins, Kookynie, Western Australia (was built near the Cosmopolitan Proprietary Mine, and was one of 11 hotels ion the town by 1907) |
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| Kookynie, WA |
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| Kookynie Cemetery, WA |
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| Grand Hotel Kookynie Pub, Kookynie, WA |
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| Grand Hotel Kookynie Pub, Kookynie, WA |
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| Kookynie, WA |
Things To Do and Places To Go
