Life on the Goldfields By Aoife and Siobhan
The dry blowing machine is surrounded by evidence of digging and various prospectors' tools including a shovel, pans, sieves and an axe. A dry stone wall structure is front left and in the cleared area in the background is a hut with a fenced-off yard.
Gold-prospecting party of three men, three working camels and a baby camel. The camels are saddled and one carries large drums, presumably containing water. The men are dressed in typical working clothes of the period. In the background is the camp set up by the men.
A group of children and adults in colonial dress standing in front of the school buildings. These comprise two large tents with wooden walls, and canvas roofs stretched over wooden frames. Additional canvas flies are attached above the roof and solid timbers support the sides.
Two women and a child, dressed in colonial clothing, outside a tent dwelling. A man is shown sitting inside the tent flap. The tent is surrounded by a brushwood fence, and is sheltered by an additional flysheet that forms an awning.
Lonely death in the bush, which was the fate of many prospectors who ventured into Western Australia's harsh interior in search of gold at the turn of the 20th century - they died of heat, hunger, thirst, accidents and disease, far from help and loved ones
Charles Yelverton O'Connor, Engineer-in-Chief of Western Australia from 1891 to 1902 - O'Connor and the state premier, Sir John Forrest, embarked on an ambitious program of public works. He was also quite rich from all of his engineering work that he did.