• Aboriginal History
• Cemeteries
• Hospitals
• Hotels
• Maps of the Goldfields
• Military
  • Boer War Soldiers
  • War Memorials
  • Western Mail Photo Index
  • WW1 Soldiers
• Miners
• Miscellaneous
• People
  • Electoral Roll
  • Employment
  • Lodge Records
  • Marriages
  • Men of the Goldfields (Book)
  • Men of WA (Book)
  • Midwives of the Goldfields
  • Miners
  • Photographers
  • Post Office Directories
  • Schools
  • Sport
• Places on the Goldfields
• Place Index A-Z

This website is dedicated to the memory of my two dear friends Sandy Duncan and Shyama Peebles who both passed away in 2012.

DARLOT CEMETERY or WOODARRA or BALLANGARRY

Also known as Lake Darlot
260Kms North East of Leonora
GPS: Latitude and Longitude 27o55 00    -     1210 17 57e

View of Darlot Cemerery - All Photographs courtesy - Paul Tonkin 

ALFORD Alfred - d 28 Nov 1895, abt 45yrs, from Yorkshire England, Cause: Sudden Death. (Cannot locate any death registration), (1^st burial in Darlot Cemetery), buried Darlot Cemetery.

BARKER W - d 29 May 1895, 25yrs, a prospector, his grave was originally marked with four forks and four rails and was in line with Hilder's Grave, buried Darlot Cemetery. (Re interred from Horsmans Gully in 1995)

Plaque for W BARKER

BEAL William James - d 25 Nov 1901, 39 yrs, at the Ballangarry Hotel, Woodarra, Cause: Kidney Disease, Occ: Publican, Father: John Stephen BEAL (Miner), Mother: Anne SANDERS, born Kooringa SA, In SA 33yrs, In WA 6yrs, Single, death registered by brother Charles BEAL, Reg East Murchison 21/1901, buried Darlot Cemetery.

 

William James BEAL - Photo Find a Grave

BEATTIE Charles - d 4 Jun 1895, 39yr, a miner, born 1856, died from consumption, from New South Wales, Reg Yilgarn 1129/1895, buried Darlot Cemetery. (Re interred from Horsmans Gully in 1995)

Plaque for Charles BEATTIE

BISHOP George – d 27 Jul 1895, 37yrs, 36yrs, Tom Hester and Jerry Donovan made the coffin out of meat and jam boxes nailed onto three mulga saplings. The funeral started from Swamper’s Gully. Bishop was a miner and a Government Well Contractor. He was supposedly working with a man named Frank Fagan when he died of Typhoid Fever. He was born c 1859 in South Australia, buried Darlot Cemetery.

Plaque for George BISHOP

CARSON Samuel - d 14 May 1895, 45yrs, buried southeast of the Cue Road about 130 yards west of Hilder's Grave. His cause of death is unknown. buried Darlot Cemetery. (Re interred from Horsmans Gully in 1995)

Plaque for Samuel CARSON
 

CRUMP Walter - d 28 Aug 1900, at the Auragon Mine, Lake Darlot, 13 hrs, Father: George William CRUMP (Leaseholder), Mother: Alice May CRUMP, Cause: Convulsions, born Lake Darlot, Reg 1406/1900, buried Darlot Cemetery.

EDWARDS William - d 10 Apr 1936, at Melrose Station, Lake Darlot, 68yrs, Occ: Prospector and Old Age Pensioner, Cause: Tuberculosis and Asthma attack. Born Moonta SA, Reg East Murchison 15/1936 (Last Burial), buried Darlot Cemetery.

ELVER Robert - d 27 Jul 1895, age 31, born c1864, from Queensland. He died in his tent. The informant was Charles F Wyvill (brother-in-law), a miner from Lake Darlot. His brother Sydney was one of the 13 mourners at the funeral. The coffin was made of meat boxes and he was buried in a white cement grave with a mound 2 feet high. Elver was a miner who went to the Mt Black rush and died of supposed Typhoid Fever. He had first caught a cold which developed into a fever and he was ailing for a few weeks. He was the son of Sidney Elver Snr and Mary nee Mellish. His brother Sidney Elver was to die also shortly after on the 15 Aug 1895 at Black Range.
Mrs. Jean Cattanach of Wishart Queensland wrote: "It was the families understanding that Sidney Elver Snr had lost money in a bank crash of the time and his two sons Robert and Sydney and brother-in-law Charles Wyvill decided to go to Western Australia in the hope they would find enough gold to replace the money lost. But it was not to be and the lives of Robert and Sydney were lost instead, Reg Murchison 1172/1895, (Re interred from Horsmans Gully in 1995), buried Darlot Cemetery.

Plaque for Robert ELVER
 

ELVER Sydney – d 15 Aug 1895, 28yrs, He was the son of Sidney Elver Snr and Mary nee Mellish. The deceased died adjacent to the No 3 Well in the Nungarra area of Black Range in the Sandstone district. In about 2000, the family sent an inscribed plaque for this previously unmarked grave and a local identity named John (Trouty) Bennett, was able to place it at the site and surround the grave with iron railing. Sidney Elver, and their brother-in-law, Charles Wyvill, were travelling from Lake Darlot to Cue on their way home to Queensland, having just buried Sidney's brother, Robert Elver, at Lake Darlot. Sidney became too ill to travel any further, died and was buried near their campsite.
Mrs Jean Cattanach, of Wishart in Queensland, wrote: “It was the family's understanding that Great-Grandfather Elver lost money in the bank crash of the time (believed to have been the 1893 Depression) and his two younger sons, Robert and Sidney, with their good friend and brother-in-law, Charles Wyvill, decided to travel to Western Australia in the hope they would find enough gold to replace the money lost. But it was not to be and the big tragedy was that the two Elver boys lost their lives”, buried Darlot Cemetery.

FARRELL Hilda Florence, d 29 Nov 1900, Murchison GM, Lawlers, Infant 2mths, Cause:- Whooping Cough, Father:-  Hugh Kernohan Mcniece FARRELL (Contractor) Mother:- Isabella DONALDSON, born Cottesloe, WA, East Murchison 7/1900

HENDERSON Daniel – d 24 Mar 1895, 51yrs, d 24 Mar 1895 aged abt 50, the informant of his death was Patrick McNamara, a miner from Lake Darlot. Henderson was a miner who had been at every gold rush in Western Australia and died supposedly of Typhoid Fever. He was born c 1845. He was one of the pioneers of New Guinea, where his party was set upon by natives, the deceased receiving a spear wound in the face, leaving a conspicuous mark which he carried to the grave. (Re interred from Horsmans Gully in 1995), buried Darlot Cemetery.

Plaque for Daniel HENDERSON
 

HILDER James – d 2 May 1895 age abt 28 yrs, Thomas Kidd and two other men made a coffin out of whiskey cases, a load of whiskey having just arrived. Charles Medlicott read the funeral service. A crude fence was erected around the grave consisting of four forks and rails but this disappeared over time. Hilder was a well-known and much-respected prospector and miner who died of 'Darlot' fever. It spoke well of the high esteem for which he was held when diggers rolled up 'en masse' to his funeral. He was born c 1867 in New South Wales. His father had a hotel in Mittagong, 50 miles from Sydney,  (Re interred from Horsmans Gully in 1995), buried Darlot Cemetery.

Plaque for James HILDER
 

HILDER and HENDERSON

LAMBERT Edward William - d 8 Aug 1899, at the Ballangarry Lease, Lake Darlot, 30yrs, Cause: Accidentally drowned after falling down the main shaft of the Ballangarry Lease, Verdict of the Coroner, Father: William LAMBERT (Caretaker), Mother: Margaret James GEOGHEGAN, born Wexford IRELAND, 6 yrs in VIC, 7 yrs in WA, Single, Reg East Murchison 7/1899, buried Darlot Cemetery. Mine Death – www.wavmm.com

LOOKE Hermanus Lambertus ‘Henry’ - d 1897, Cause: Perished, Died about 1897. According to Marlene Counsel, wife of a descendant, the image showing skeletal remains is of Hermanus Lambertus LOOKE, alias Herman Henry LOOKE, who disappeared with his son, Henry Augustus LOOKE, known as Gus. Ms Counsel writes "that they were apparently selling grog and merchandise about Lake Darlot. He married his first wife, Sarah Ann ANDERSON, nee KENNEDY and when she died, her oldest daughter, Emma Jane, became pregnant to him and they later married ... ". According to a newspaper report, the remains that were discovered between Darlot and Mount Sir Samuel were definitely proved to be those of Henry Looke (the articles found among the bones having been identified by his widow at Dongarra).

However, it was not known what became of the man's son, a youth of about 18, who was known to have been with him when Looke was last seen. A man named Thomas Town- send, of Mount Sir Samuel, informed the Lawlers police that he knew Henry Looke was a teamster and carried grog and merchandise about the fields. He said Looke left Lawlers for Lake Darlot sometime in 1897 with a waggon (sic) and two horses. His intention, according to Townsend's belief, was to sell his turn-out as soon as he could get a decent offer and go prospecting. Enquiries made by a policeman stationed on the East Murchison revealed: "I met Looke and his son about two years ago some 26 miles east of Lawlers. They had with them five horses in very poor condition, a covered waggonette and a buggy. Looke and I had some conversation and he told me that he was going prospecting between there and Lake Way. He admitted he did not know the country well, but was confident he could find his way, and expected to be able to get along on surface water. The country was very dry, but there had been a slight thunderstorm a week or two earlier. I cautioned him to be careful and advised him where he could find water at the 25 -mile Granites. I then left him, and I never heard of anyone seeing him since." It was alleged that Looke's son returned to Magnet with the horses but no report was made of the death of his father and no further report was made of the son, buried Darlot Cemetery.

Remains of ermanus Lambertus Looke  - Photo SLWA

ABOVE - This is the skeleton of Hermanus Lambertus Looke alis Herman Henry Looke. He disappeared with his son Henry Augustus Looke (Gus) the story goes that they were selling grog and merchandise about Lake Darlot. He married his first wife Sarah Ann Anderson nee Kennedy and when she died her oldest daughter Emma Jane became pregnant to him and they later married, and had 12 children including my husband fathers mother Sarah Josephine Looke - Information supplied by Marlene Counsel

LOOKE Henry Augustus – d 1897 14yrs, Cause: Perished, Son of H L Looke, a Teamster REF 0647 According to Marlene Counsel, wife of a descendant of Hermanus Lambertus LOOKE, father of the deceased, alias Herman Henry LOOKE, who disappeared with his son, Henry Augustus LOOKE, known as Gus. Ms Counsel writes "that they were apparently selling grog and merchandise about Lake Darlot. According to a newspaper report, the remains that were discovered between Darlot and Mount Sir Samuel were definitely proved to be those of Henry Looke (the articles found among the bones having been identified by his widow at Dongarra). However, it was not known what became of the man's son, a youth of about 18, who was known to have been with him when Looke was last seen.

A man named Thomas Town- send, of Mount Sir Samuel, informed the Lawlers police that he knew Henry Looke was a teamster and carried grog and merchandise about the fields. He said Looke left Lawlers for Lake Darlot sometime in 1897 with a waggon (sic) and two horses. His intention, according to Townsend's belief, was to sell his turn-out as soon as he could get a decent offer and go prospecting. Enquiries made by a policeman stationed on the East Murchison revealed: "I met Looke and his son about two years ago some 26 miles east of Lawlers.

They had with them five horses in very poor condition, a covered waggonette and a buggy. Looke and I had some conversation and he told me that he was going prospecting between there and Lake Way. He admitted he did not know the country well, but was confident he could find his way, and expected to be able to get along on surface water. The country was very dry, but there had been a slight thunderstorm a week or two earlier. I cautioned him to be careful and advised him where he could find water at the 25 -mile Granites. I then left him, and I never heard of anyone seeing him since." It was alleged that Looke's son returned to Magnet with the horses but no report was made of the death of his father and no further report was made of the son, buried Darlot Cemetery.

LYONS William James – d 8 May 1895, 28yrs, Cause: Typhoid Fever. The deceased was buried by his brothers close to the 16-Mile Soak (16 miles from Darlot) near Lake Darlot. The informant was his brother, Joseph A Lyons, of Coolgardie. On the day they buried William, one sewed the body in the blanket and the other dug the grave. At the head of the mound, stands a Mulga-sticks cross with a piece of box nailed on it which is inscribed: "R.I.P. In loving memory of our dear brother W.J. Lyons who died May 8, 1895 aged 28 years. The three brothers were lured to the area by tales of a rich alluvial find that had promise of being a "miniature Niagara", pulling in half an ounce to an ounce of gold per day. Reg 953/1895, buried Darlot Cemetery.

MACKEY John Francis - d 20 Feb 1906, 9 months, Cause: Dysentery and teething, Father: Lewis MACKEY (Miner), Mother: Annie GLEESON, born Perth WA, Reg East Murchison 9/1906, buried Darlot Cemetery.

McGRATH James - d 14 May 1914, 48 yrs, at the State Battery, Lake Darlot, Occ: Caretaker of State Battery, Lake Darlot, Cause: Suicide, cyanide self-administered, Verdict of Coroner, born Ireland, 28yrs in WA, Reg East Murchison 4/1914, buried Darlot Cemetery.

METZKE Mabel Florence - d 2 Nov 1919, at Lake Darlot, 36yrs, Cause: Sudden death, verdict of the Coroner, Father: Thomas NUTT (Labourer), Mother: Nina ROBERTS, born Bendigo VIC, in VIC 21yrs, in WA 15yrs, married to Alfred METZKE in Perth WA at age 25yrs, Reg East Murchison 3/1919, buried Darlot Cemetery.

Mabel METZKE - Photo Find a Grave

METZKE Margaret Anne - d 21 Jun 1908, 42yrs, Married woman, Cause: Tubercular Pleurisy, Father: Alexander MILREY (Miner), Mother: Margaret MCINTYRE, born Costerfield VIC, In VIC 37yrs, In WA 5yrs, Married to John METZKE in Alexandra VIC at age 24yrs, Reg East Murchison 10/1908, buried Darlot Cemetery.

MILLER William Andrew – d 19 Dec 1903, Cause of Death: Aneurism of the Heart and Abscess, A well-known one-time secretary of the WA Club in Perth. He is said to have been the discoverer of the Cosmopolitan at Kookynie. The Anglo-Australian Prospecting Syndicate Ltd (Adelaide), a party of three (WA Miller, T Grant and HR Davies) was originally formed to prospect in the vicinity of Arltunga, South Australia. Miller was in charge of the party and after prospecting Arltunga for some time, he received orders to proceed to the Erlistoun district in Western Australia. He added JB Hatch to his party and left Alice Springs on 29 July 1903. The border was crossed after two months travel, but supplies were getting scarce and the water question became a serious one. Miller suggested that the party split up about 80 miles northeast of Lake Wells. He left with Davies on 11 December and travelled a south-westerly course.

About a week later, camp had to be made as Miller was ailing from aneurism of the heart, a large abscess on his neck distinctly showing the quickened pulsations on the heart. Davies perceived Miller was in a very bad state, gurgling in the throat, and on the night of the 19th, Miller called him as the abscess on his neck had burst. He died shortly afterwards. The next day, Davies buried his mate where he died. Miller, whose wife and family resided in Adelaide, was the prospector and discovered of the Zoroastrian mine at Bardoc and also the discoverer of the Cosmopolitan group of mines.

PATTERSON Percy - d 21 Dec 1908, at the Zangbar Mine, Lake Darlot, Occ: Miner/Prospector, 36yrs, Cause: Died from natural causes, Order of the Coroner, Reg East Murchison 18/1908, buried Darlot Cemetery.

PETERSON Neil - d 21 Nov 1916, 67yrs, Occ: Dryblower, Cause: Natural Causes, Order of the Coroner, Father: Olans LUNDSTROM, Mother: Anna ANDERSON, born Trelleborg, SWEDEN, Single, Reg East Murchison 9/1916, buried Darlot Cemetery.

Unnamed Male - found in the bush (Re interred from Horsmans Gully in 1995)

WARREN Gordon Campbell - d 29 Feb 1916, 6yrs, Cause: Tetanus, Father: Aubrey Albert WARREN (Station Owner), Mother Isabel TELFER, born Perth WA, Reg East Murchison 2/1916, buried Darlot Cemetery.

Gordon Campbell WARREN - Photo Find a Grave

WARREN Joseph David -  d 2 Mar 1916, 45yrs, Occ: Station Owner, Cause: Foul air in shaft while being lowered to do repairs, no blame attached to anyone, Verdict of the Coroner, Father: Joseph WARREN (Stonemason), Mother: Mary HYDE, born Geraldton WA, 45yrs in WA, Married twice: 1^st to Maggie HORTON in Melbourne VIC, 2^nd to Eglantine CAMPBELL in Menzies WA at age 33yrs, Children all of 2^nd marriage: John 9 yrs, May 7 yrs, Olive 6 yrs, Alexander 5 yrs, Roy 1 yr, Stanley 3 weeks, deceased 2 females, death certified by brother Aubrey WARREN, Reg East Murchison 3/1916,  buried Darlot Cemetery.

Joseph David WARREN - Photo Find a Grave

WESTBROOK William Henry - d abt 4 Nov 1906, at Lake Darlot, 63yrs, Occ: Prospector, Cause: Want of nourishment and old age, Reg East Murchison 3/1907, buried Darlot Cemetery.

WILLIAMS Hugh - d. 31 May 1895, 59yrs, Buried 9 yards from W Barkers Grave, Died of fever. He was a delicate chap with a hacking cough, which, "on this occasion, broke his heart and he dropped dead" William's death took place one night around the campfire, while Tom the Liar, Micky MacIntyre, and several other romancers were relating their experiences.

Great was the gloom that night as they covered his body with blankets in the moonlight and set to prepare for internment. Work was suspended on the adjacent claims while the committee appointed to build the coffin hunted around for candle boxes, gin cases, and carpenters' tools. When the casket was completed, it had some unusual inscriptions

"This side Up" and "Keep Away from Boilers"

The next problem was to procure some religious text to read at the burial service - Gold was easier to find! After an extensive search, an old Whittaker's Almanac was found, some thought it would do alright, but after careful consideration, it was rejected as the camp scholar claimed it had no reference to funerals. Eventually, the necessary book was found at Reid's camp, poor Williams was eventually buried - Ref Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette - 17 Aug 1895, Reg 1172/1895 (Re interred from Horsmans Gully in 1995).

Plaque for Hugh WILLIAMS