History of West Australia facts for kids

Cover of the book

Front page of the book

History of West Australia: A Narrative Of Her Past Together With Biographies Of Her Leading Men is a very large book, like a big picture book. It was put together by Warren Burt Kimberly over 18 months and came out in 1897.

Because the book is so old, all the information inside it is free for anyone to use. You can copy it, share it, or use it for your own projects without needing permission.

What is the Book About?

Warren Bert Kimberly, who was from America, moved to Australia in the mid-1880s. He had already worked on history books about gold mining towns like Ballarat and Bendigo. These books were published by F.W. Niven & Co. in Melbourne.

How the Book Was Made

In late 1895, Kimberly suggested a similar book project to Sir John Forrest, who was a very important leader in Western Australia. Kimberly asked if the government would give him a grant of £2000 to help with the book. Sir John Forrest offered a different deal: the government would promise to buy 100 copies of the finished book. Kimberly agreed to this offer. With the help of J.J. Pascoe, a journalist from Melbourne, he finished the huge project in 18 months. The book ended up being about 340,000 words long!

What's Inside the Book?

The book has two main parts:

• Part One: The History of Western Australia

* This is the biggest part of the book, going up to page 348. * It covers the history of Western Australia from the 1300s, when Europeans first thought the land might exist. * It goes all the way up to May 1897, the year the book was published. * This section includes lots of details about how Europeans explored the state starting in 1829. * There are also two extra sections, like long essays, that focus on gold and the gold mining industry. Gold mining was super important to Western Australia's society and economy when the book came out.

• Part Two: Biographies of Important People

* This section contains 163 biographies of famous Western Australians. * The page numbers start over from 1 to 236 for this part. * Each biography usually has several pages of text and a large photo of the person.

Chapters in the History Section

The first part of the book is divided into many chapters, each covering a different period or topic in Western Australia's history. Here are some of the main topics:

• Early Discoveries: Chapters 1 and 2 talk about how Australia was first discovered.
• First Peoples: Chapter 3 focuses on the Aboriginal people.
• Becoming a Colony: Chapters 4, 5, and 6 explain how Western Australia became a British colony and how Perth and Fremantle were founded in 1829.
• Early Years of the Colony: Chapters 7 to 12 describe the challenges and progress from 1830 to 1838. This includes things like exploration, land laws, and early conflicts.
• Challenges and New Beginnings: Chapters 13 and 14 cover a tough time for the colony (1839-1848) and the start of new industries.
• Convict Era: Chapters 15, 16, and 17 discuss the period when convicts were sent to Western Australia (1849-1868) and when this system finally stopped.
• Growing Up: Chapters 18, 19, and 20 talk about the colony gaining more control over its own government (1869-1892), public works, and the exciting discovery of gold.
• The Goldfields Boom: Chapter 21 focuses on the huge impact of the goldfields from 1893 to 1897.

Notable Western Australians: Biographies

The second part of the book features biographies of many important people who lived in Western Australia. These individuals were often politicians, business leaders, explorers, or other figures who played a big role in the state's development. Here are some of the names you would find:

A

• Alexander, William, a member of the Legislative Council.

B

• Backhouse, Frank Herbert
• Dr. Barnett, Henry Calvert, a Justice of the Peace and medical professional.
• Bellingham, George, a Justice of the Peace and engineer.
• Captain Bissenberger, Frank
• Briggs, Henry, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Council.
• Brimage, Thomas Frederick
• Broadhurst, Florance C.
• Brookman, William Gordon
• Bush, Robert Edwin, a Justice of the Peace and former member of the Legislative Council.

C

• Chewings, Dr. Charles, a mining engineer.
• Clare, William Edward
• Cohn, Isidore James Knight, a Justice of the Peace.
• Congdon, Daniel Keen, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Council.
• Connor, Francis, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Conolly, John Richard Arthur, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Craig, Frank, a Justice of the Peace.
• Crossland, Charles, a Justice of the Peace.
• Cumbrae-Stewart, Charles Robert
• Cutbush, Charles

D

• Davies, Edward William, a former member of the Legislative Council.
• Davies, George Alfred, a Justice of the Peace.
• Davies, John
• De Baun, John
• Deeley, Charles Ernest
• Dempster, Charles Edward, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Doherty, Dennis Joseph, a member of the Legislative Council.
• Doolette, Dorham Longford
• Rev. Father Duff, James
• Dunn, John George, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

E

• Edgar, John, a Justice of the Peace.
• Ewing, Norman Kirkwood, a member of the Legislative Assembly.

F

• Fairbairn, Robert, a Police Magistrate.
• Fearby, George Rowland, a mining engineer.
• Ferguson, John Maxwell
• Fimister, John William
• Finnerty, John Michael, a Resident Magistrate.
• Sir Forrest, John, a very important leader and explorer.

G

• Gale, William Hepburn, a Justice of the Peace.
• The Most Rev. Gibney, Matthew, a Bishop.
• Glyde, George, a Justice of the Peace and former member of the Legislative Council.
• Göczel, Stephen L., a mining engineer.
• Goodsir, David James Cook, a Justice of the Peace.
• Grant, Mackenzie, a Justice of the Peace.
• Grave, James
• Gregory, Henry, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Griffith, William, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

H

• Hackett, John Winthrop, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Council.
• Hair, Robert Lees
• Hall, Lyall, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Hardwick, Thomas Wall
• Harney, Edward Augustine St. Aubyn
• Harper, Charles, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Haynes, Richard Septimus, a member of the Legislative Council.
• Henning, Andrew Harriott, a member of the Legislative Council.
• Hewer, George
• Hills, John Charles
• Holmes, Joseph John, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Holmes, William Johnston, a Justice of the Peace.
• Hooley, Edward Timothy, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Dr. Hope, James William, a Justice of the Peace and medical professional.
• Horgan, John
• Humble, George Bland
• Hurst, John, a Councillor.

I

• Illingworth, Frederick, a member of the Legislative Assembly.

J

• James, John Charles Horsey, a Police Magistrate.
• James, Walter, a member of the Legislative Assembly.

K

• Keane, Edward Vivian Harvey, a Justice of the Peace and former member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Dr. Kenny, Daniel, a medical professional.
• Kingsmill, Walter, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.

L

• Lacey, Edmund Gilyard
• Leake, George, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Lee, Alfred Frederick, a Councillor for Perth.
• Hon. Sir Lee-Steere, James G., a knight.
• Lefroy, Henry Bruce, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Hon. Lefroy, Anthony O'Grady, a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.
• Lindsay, David, an explorer and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
• Locke, Ernest Charles Bavage, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Loton, William Thorley, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Dr. Lovegrove, Thomas Henry, a Justice of the Peace and medical professional.
• Lovely, William Harvey Chapman, a mining engineer.
• Lyon, Charles Gordon, a Justice of the Peace.

M

• Macdonald, Albert Watt, a Justice of the Peace.
• Mackay, Donald McDonald, a member of the Legislative Council.
• Mackenzie, Alfred
• Mannheim, Ernest Arthur, an engineer.
• Hon. Marmion, William Edward, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Mason, Clayton Turner, a Justice of the Peace and civil engineer.
• Menzie, Leslie Robert
• Mitchell, Samuel, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Monger, Frederick Charles, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Moore, John Fairbourne
• Moore, William Dalgety, a former member of the Legislative Council.
• Moorhead, Frederick William
• Moran, Charles John
• Morgans, Alfred Edward
• Mosey, Frederick
• Moxon, William Ernest
• Mumme, William
• McCormack, Harold B.
• McDonald, John Ernest
• McDonald, John James
• McGillicuddy, Ernest
• McKenzie, Robert Donald
• McKernan, Hugh, a member of the Legislative Council.
• McLarty, Edward, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Council.
• McWilliams, George Frederick, a medical professional.

N

• Newman, Thomas

O

• Captain Oates, William, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Oldham, Charles Henry, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Captain Owston, William
• O'Connor, Michael

P

• Parker, George
• Parker, Stephen Henry, a Queen's Counsel and member of the Legislative Council.
• Parker, Stephen Stanley, a Justice of the Peace and former member of the Legislative Council.
• Parry, Henry Ernest, a Justice of the Peace and Bishop of Perth.
• Parsons, Harold George
• Paterson, Charles Anthony
• Paterson, William, a Justice of the Peace and former politician.
• Pearce, Thomas Gilbert, involved in mining.
• Pennefather, Richard William, a lawyer and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Colonel Phillips, George Braithwaite, a Justice of the Peace.
• Phillips, Samuel J., a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Hon. Piesse, Frederick Henry, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Price, Edward Graham
• Price, Matthew

Q

• Councillor Quinlan, Timothy Francis, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.

R

• Randell, George, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Council.
• Reid, John, a civil engineer.
• Hon. Richardson, Alex. Robert, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Bishop Riley, Charles Owen Leaver, a Bishop.
• Roe, Augustus Sandford, a Justice of the Peace.
• Roe, James Broun, a Justice of the Peace.

S

• Saunders, Henry John, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Council.
• Councillor Saw, Charles Augustus, a Justice of the Peace.
• Scheidel, August, a Doctor of Philosophy.
• Schlam S. B., a Fellow of the Geological Society.
• Shenton, Ernest Chawner
• Sir Shenton, George, a knight and member of the Legislative Council.
• Sholl, Edward
• Sholl, Horatio William, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Sholl, Richard Adolphus, a Justice of the Peace.
• Sholl, Robert Frederick, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Short, John Tregterthen
• Simon, Alfred Leon, a Doctor of Philosophy.
• Simpson, George Thomas, a member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Sinclair, Walter John Lockyer
• Councillor Speed, James Montgomery
• Stow, Reginald Marshall

T

• Taylor, John Howard, a member of the Legislative Council.
• Thomas, John
• Hon. Throssell, George, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Dr. Tratman, Frank, a Justice of the Peace and medical doctor.
• Trigg, Henry Stirling, a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

V

• Vanzetti, Eugenio
• Hon. Venn, Harry Whittall, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Vosper, F. C. B., a member of the Legislative Assembly.

W

• Wallace, Frank, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Assembly.
• Dr. Waylen, Alfred Robert, a medical doctor and Justice of the Peace.
• Williams, Harry
• Councillor Wilson, Frank, a Councillor for Perth.
• Wilson, John, a Justice of the Peace.
• Hon. Wittenoom, Edward Horne, a Justice of the Peace and member of the Legislative Council.
• Woodward, Harry Page, a Justice of the Peace and geologist.

Further Reading

• Garrick, P. (1984) Two historians and the aborigines: Kimberly and Battye, commentary on their different attitudes. Studies in Western Australian History, No.8 (Dec. 1984), p. 111-130
• Geraldton Advertiser, 30 May 1898, p. 2d – review of book
• Kimberly, W.B. (1895) Bendigo and vicinity : a comprehensive history of her past, and a resume of her resources ; together with the biographies of her representative pioneers, public, commercial, and professional men, Melbourne: Niven.