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Kalgoorlie RSL
Kalgoorlie RSL was formed after WW1 and has continually served the Veteran community of Kalgoorlie.
The community of Kalgoorlie has sent off sons and daughters to serve Australia and the Commonwealth in all theaters of war and peace. Members of our community served as far back as 1857 in the Indian Rebellion through to modern times. Each person is respected and recognised for their service. The RSL offers veterans and their families care, assistance and advocacy all year.
Each year ANZAC Day is observed without fail at the Kalgoorlie cenotaph and memorial as well as Remembrance Day. This sculptured monument made by Pietro Giacomo Porcelli in 1923 stands at the top end of Wilson Street, outside the Kalgoorlie train station. It is from this point many sons and daughters left their homes never to return. The “digger” with his rifle faces the station on a column of Bulla Bulling granite. This symbolises the patriotism and steadfast attitude of Kalgoorlie service personnel. Because Kalgoorlie is very much a multicultural community, we accept all veterans of allied countries to join with us on our days of commemoration and service.
In 1987 the 2/16 Battalion, Royal Western Australian Battalion received the honour of the Freedom of the City of Kalgoorlie. This they have exercised several times with serving members and veterans marching from the train station to Hannan Street and halting in front of the Kalgoorlie Town Hall.
Our committed continual service to the veteran community of Kalgoorlie is at the center of our obligation to the people who served.
TIM MOORE
Community and Media Liaison Officer Kalgoorlie Returning & Services League of Australia WA Branch
Initiative and resource learned during military service allowed veterans in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia to overcome a housing shortage after the Second World War.
A cooperative scheme to build houses commenced when 22 members of the 2/28th Battalion and 24th Anti-Tank Company Association, pooled £1300 of their own money to salvage building materials from the waning mining town of Wiluna in the northern Goldfields. A parcel of land in Kalgoorlie was obtained from municipal authorities and the local repatriation committee agreed to provide interest free loans.
The foundation stumps of the first home were put down on 20 September 1946. Employing skills in carpentry, electrical, plumbing and painting gained during service, the men worked together on weekends and in the evenings (following their shifts on the local mines). Three houses were completed within the first three months and a ballot was held to determine the owner of each property. The secretary of the scheme offered: “We hope…that the critics will be kind, remembering that the houses have been built mostly by mugs, out of second-hand building material…Such as they are we are proud of them.”
By December 1947, members of the group had each contributed about 900 hours of labour. These hours were recorded and each man received credit towards the cost of their own property, to the effect that most were expected to pay between £300 and £350 for a three bedroom home valued at £500.
The scheme was successfully completed in May 1948 with 23 homes constructed, providing housing for 44 adults and 39 children.
The Goldfields War Museum in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia proudly collects, conserves and shares the stories of military veterans from our region.
The museum can be visited at the Boulder Town Hall, Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm or on Saturday from 9am to 1pm (excluding public holidays).
Stories are regularly uploaded to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/CKBHistoryandHeritage
