Virtual Museum: The Midland Railway

These days the Midland Railway doesn't do much more than transport grain but when it opened in 1894 it dramatically changed Carnamah's position. The district went from a place of great remoteness to one connected by rail to Perth and Geraldton. Over the years the railway has served many purposes, played many roles and remains significant today. We're delighted to invite you to click on the below link and check out our fourth virtual exhibit:

The Midland Railway

Our objects and images have been enriched thanks to images from the collections of the following five organisations:

www.sro.wa.gov.au
Registers - Prisoners Confined in Geraldton Prison
Series 677, Consignment No. 4187, Item No. 01

Three Springs Centenary Collection, Photograph No. 60
Loading Ballast between Three Springs and Arrino

www.histwest.org.au
Photograph R4310, Wheat Stack at Carnamah

www.railheritagewa.org.au
Photograph P7452, Gunyidi Disaster 1917

www.slwa.wa.gov.au
Photograph 6050PD, Midland Railway Engine at Watheroo
Photograph 4657/72, Midland Railway Passenger Carriage
Police Gazette, Western Australia; 1921, page 253

Our virtual museum is undergoing a rapid transformation thanks to support from the Department of Culture and the Arts. The Midland Railway is to be shortly followed by another five new virtual exhibits and the online publication of 18 agricultural show schedules from Coorow, Carnamah, Three Springs, Mingenew and the North Midlands.

Our virtual museum now comprises of four virtual exhibitions:

• Macpherson Family - The story of the founders of Carnamah Station
• Midland Railway - A journey of transport and endurance
• Ready-Made Farms - Are you there? A call from Australia!
• Milk Cream & Butter - The hard work of common commodities

Moora Public Cemetery: Stories from the Grave

We recently uploaded a burial index for the Moora Public Cemetery in the Western Australian wheatbealt. It lists the names, death and burial information of over 1,500 people. Those buried in the cemetery came from a wide range of places due to Moora being a district centre and having had a hospital since 1910.

We thought we'd look at the stories behind the first three burials at the cemetery. They strongly affirm the saying that truth is stranger than fiction! They comprise of a man found drowned down a well, a murder and a mysterious death. They are detailed below.

Burial 1 - Joseph Hunt

Died at Joyce's Flat near Moora on 5 August 1899, aged 72

The West Australian, Saturday 23 September 1899

Burial 2 - Sing Lee

Died at Warrdengabee near Moora on 13 June 1905

The Daily News, Tuesday 18 June 1905

A Chinese man Ah Kim believed his co-workers were going to rob him and attacked them with an axe in the early hours of the morning. Ah Kim killed a fellow Chinese man Sing Lee (who was buried at Moora), another co-worker Evender E. Ellis and badly wounded a third named Edward Pearce. Ah Kim was sentenced to death but this was later reduced to life imprisonment on the grounds of insanity.

Burial 3 - John Harding

Died near Moora on 22 March 1906

The West Australian, Monday 26 March 1906

Harding's whereabouts were investigated after he failed to collect his bread. An inquest into his death was held in Moora on 21 March 1906. The inquest could only assume the bones on the fire were his and returned an inconclusive finding as to his cause of death.

The West Australian, Saturday 31 March 1906

You can search by surname or keyword in the Register of Burials cemetery search on our website, which covers:

• Moora Public Cemetery
• Winchester Cemetery in Carnamah
• Perenjori Cemetery
• Three Springs General Cemetery
• Mingenew Cemetery

The Moora Public Cemetery was indexed from afar by virtual volunteers Fiona Bush, Lesly Singleton, Marcia Watson, Ross Croft, Sandie Keeble, Suzanne Marsh and Tamara McPhee. If you're interested in helping from work or home on similar projects please e-mail andrew@carnamah.com.au.