MY FOURTH TOUR
IN
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
ALBERT F. CALVERT, F.R.G.S.
--o--
MY FOURTH TOUR IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
Illustrated by Walker Hodgson and from Photographs.
Facsimile of the 1897 edition.
Quarto, boards, frontispiece portrait, illust., pages 351.
Large colour map of Western Australian goldfields
One of the most magnificent books on the WA goldfields and
bush, with hundreds of photographs and sketches.
CHAPTER I.
ALBANY RE-VISITED—THE PLAGUE OF FLIES—PASSING THE CUSTOMS—THE
JOURNEY TO
PERTH—DISCOMFORTS en route—BEVERLEY—CLAREMONT—PERTH,
THE PARADISE OF
LANDLORDS—EXPANSION OF THE REVENUE
CHAPTER II.
THE GOLD FEVER IN PERTH—THE SHAMROCK HOTEL—AMUSEMENTS IN
PERTH—RECEPTION
AT THE CITY HALL—DINNER AT OSBORNE—THE RAILWAY STATION—NORTHAM—THE
WATER QUESTION—SOUTHERN CROSS ...
CHAPTER III.
THE 2O-MILE SAND PLAIN—BOORABBIN—THE COOLGARDIE ROAD—WOOLGANGIE-—THE
TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD—THE HORSES AND THE TEAMS...
CHAPTER IV.
THE "BRUMBY"—THE WOOLGANGIE COW—-THE CAMELS AND THE
AFGHANS—THE DEVIL'SGRIP—THE TEAMSTERS—
THE SWAMPERS—THE OUTSKIRTS OF COOLGARDIE
CHAPTER V.
THE NECESSARY WASH—COOLGARDIE'S DRINK BILL—THE VICTORIA
HOTEL—THE DINING HALL
AND THE DINERS—A FEW MINE MANAGERS—"FINK SATIN"—THE
FIRST SILK HAT ON
THE FIELD—A CAUTIOUS MINER—ALL THE DELICACIES OF THE SEASON AT
COOLGARDIE—
HIGH AND LOW PRICES—THE UNEMPLOYED OP COOLGARDIE . 63
CHAPTER VI.
FIRES AT COOLGARDIE—THE Bulletin MAKES MERRY ON THE
SUBJECT—THE AMERICAN
SMARTNESS OF THE TOWN—THE AUCTION SALES OF STOCK—THE WATER
QUESTION—■
THE FIRST DISCOVERER OF FRESH WATER IN COOLGARDIE—WATERING THE
STOCKHOW
COOLGARDIE WAS BUILT—THE FIRST MAYOR, MR. JAMES SHAW—THE
SHOKTCOMINGS
OF THE TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT—THE ENORMOUS INCREASE OF MESSAGES
-----
THE WOES OK THE TELEGRAPH STAFF—THEATRE ROYAL, COOLGARDIE—ARRIVAL
IN
COOLGARDIE—THE MISSING MINE, AND THE MISSING OWNER—A
THUNDERSTORM... 77
CHAPTER VII.
THE ROAD TO HANNAN'S (KALGOORLIE)—LAYING OUT A MINING
TOWNSHIP—THE EMPLOY
MENT OF LILIPUTIANS—THE BOY "BELL-MAN"—HUMOURS OF THE HORSE
SALES—
SIR JOHN FORREST AT COOLGARDIE—THE PREMIER AT BAY—A COLD
RECEPTION
AND A WARM FAREWELL—THE PREMIER'S POLITICAL CAREER—His PART IN
THE
BUILDING OF THE COOLGARDIE RAILWAY—His PERSONAL POPULARITY—SIR
JOHN
FORREST AT HANNAN'S—HE IS BOMBARDED WITH DEPUTATIONS—THRASHING
OUT
THE GRIEVANCES—A BUMPER BANQUET—THE PREMIER'S
TRIUMPHS—HOMEWARDS
UNDER THE STARS
CHAPTER VIII.
SATURDAY EVENING AT HANNAN'S—THE SALVATION ARMY MEETING, THE
DOG FIGHT, AND
THE "OPEN EXCHANGE"—BARS AND BILLIARDS—TIDYING UP TO
ADVANTAGE'—AN
ABORIGINAL ARTIST—CAMELS ON THE FIELDS—AN INGENIOUS
REGISTRAR-—THE
MEAT SUPPLY
CHAPTER IX.
THE BICYCLE ON THE GOLDFIELDS—THE PRIVATIONS OF THE
PIONEERS—TYPHOID FEVER
AND ITS TREATMENT AT HANNAN'S—THE NOBLE HOSPITAL NURSES—A COAT
OF
ARMS FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA—THE " DEAD MARINES" ON THE
TRACK—DRY
BLOWING AROUND HANNAN'S—WHITE FEATHER—THE FUTURE OF THE
COLONY'S
TIMBER TRADE—THE DISCOMFORT OF RAILWAY TRAVELLING—TAGH MAHOMET
MURDERED—FORCED MARCHES—THE MIDLAND RAILWAY
CHAPTER X.
GERALDTON—THE FATE
OF THE
"WEST RIDING"—THE
SUPERIORITY OF THE MIDLAND
RAILWAY COMPANY'S
LINE—IN
PRAISE OF MR.
GASCARD—MELANCHOLY
MULLEWA—
A NIGHT AT
THE
TRAVELLER'S REST—AN EXPERIENCE
OF
CHINESE CHEAP LABOUR—
SURVEYING THE RAILWAY
ROUTE TO
CUE
.
CHAPTER
XI.
THE TEAMS ON THE
CUE ROAD—SHEEP
FARMING ON THE MURCHISON—ABORIGINAL
SHEPHERDS AND TRACKERS—BULLOCKS
AND BULLOCK
DRIVERS—AT
CHAIN PUMP—
"THE
BROTHERS"—GABYION
SHEEP
STATION—YALGOO—TENNIS
IN THE TROPICS
CHAPTER XII.
THE POST AND
TELEGRAPH MASTER
AT YALGOO—THE
BUTCHER'S DEPUTY—WESTRALIAN
TROOPERS—THE
GOLD
ESCORT—A
REMINISCENCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN
BUSH
RANGERS—AT DEEP
WELL—AN
AFRICAN PRINCESS—MONBENIA
AND OUR HOSTS
THERE—"SHOO FLY! "—BADGER'S CROSS—FITZGERALD
STATION
CHAPTER XIII.
BILL-POSTING EXTRAORDINARY—CAMEL TRANSPORT
ON THE MURCHISON—TAGH
AND FAIZ
MAHOMET—THE
AFGHAN KNOT—MOONLIGHT
ON THE MURCHISON—MOUNT
MAGNET—
MINE HOST OF THE ONE AND
ALL HOTEL—-THE
PROHIBITION LIST—"THE
ISLAND," AND THE "MAINLAND"—DAY
DAWN—ARRIVAL
IN CUE
CHAPTER XIV.
CUE AND
COOLGARDIE CONTRASTED—AN APPRECIATION OF THE
AFGHAN—LAWLER'S—THE
CUE PUBLIC
SWIMMING BATH—THE
MURCHISON
AS
THE PARADISE
OF THE
WORKING
MAN —
A
BOUNDLESS HOSPITALITY — RECOLLECTIONS OF
THE CUE TRACK —
A
EULOGIUM
OF THE COACH
SERVICE — A MlKAGE---- THE MURCHISON "
ZOO "—A RACE
AGAINST
TIME
CHAPTER XV.
THE NECESSITY FOR
BREAKING RECORDS—THE SAUCY
"AUSTRALIND"—THE
CHINAMAN AT
HIS BEST —
SHARK'S BAY —CONCERNING
SANDAL WOOD —
GALVANIZED IRON OF
ACCURSED MEMORY—THE
SHORTCOMINGS OF AN ASIATIC CREW—TEACHING
THE
NATIVES TO
BE
HONEST—SQUATTING DIFFICULTIES ON THE
GASCOYNE—DIRK
HARTOG
ISLAND AND ITS
STORY
CHAPTER XVI.
SULTRY CARNARVON-—"'Tis DISTANCE LENDS ENCHANTMENT TO THE
VIEW"—ABORIGINAL
ISAAC WALTONS—A SAIL ON THE PIER—A DAMP DEPARTURE—THE "AUSTRALIND"
TO THE RESCUE—ONSLOW— FAREWELL TO THE "AUSTRALIND"
CHAPTER XVII.
COSSACK—A DECAYING INDUSTRY—THE PERILS OF PEARLING—THE RAVAGES
OF THE
WILLY-WILLY—-THE COSSACK-ROEBOURNE TRAMWAY SYSTEM—A
WELCOME TO THF.
NORTH-WEST .
CHAPTER XVIII.
ROEBOURNE—THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND THE HOSPITAL—ORIENTAL
LUXURY—A RECORD
NORTH-WEST BANQUET
CHAPTER XIX.
THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN—PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS—THE MAYOR OF
ROEBOURNE IN
COMMAND—MR. OSBORNE'S CAREER—THE START—ILLNESS AND
DEATH OF LEONARD
CALVERT—THE FRAIL SISTERS OF THE EAST—EARLY IMPRESSIONS .
CHAPTER XX.
SHERLOCK STATION—-A HEARTY WELCOME — SQUATTING UNDER
DIFFICULTIES — THE
BLACKS ON THE SHERLOCK STATION—THE DRAWBACKS TO AGRICULTURAL
PROGRESS—
LIFE ON A RUN .
CHAPTER XXI.
AN ABORIGINAL TRAVELLING PARTY—A LIBEL ON HUMANITY—MALLINA—A
BLISSFUL
BATH—MALLINA AS A GOLDPTELB—A SUFFOCATING DAY—A TROPICAL
THUNDER
STORM—"TOMMY"'—THE PLEADINGS OF THE PARCHED NORTH-WEST—A STOKY
OF
THE EGINA WELL
CHAPTER XXII.
A GARDEN IN THE DESERT—ARRIVAL AT PILBARRA—AN IMPROMPTU
SUPPER—FAILING
HEALTH—-WE SECURE OUR CHRISTMAS DINNER—THE PHANTOM RIVER OF
THE
NORTH-WEST — AT YANDEERARA POOL—A MISERABLE STAGE — LOOK'S
POOL —
THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT—MR. LOOK TO THE RESCUE .
CHAPTER XXIII.
BACK TO THE COAST. (BY GRAHAM HILL.)
CHAPTER XXIV.
INTO THE
MOUNTAINOUS
DISTRICTS—AN
ABANDONED
LOAD—ARRIVAL
AT TAMBOURAH
CREEK—
" A WELL-WATERED
COUNTRY"
— Vide GOVERNMENT
REPORTS
— AT
WESTERN
SHAW—MR.
GEORGE
WITHNELL'S
HOSPITALITY—THE
NATIVE
LABOUR
CONDITIONS.
(BY
S. H. WHITTAKER.)
.
CHAPTER XXV.
A DRY
STAGE—THE
INQUISITIVE
EMU—WILD
DOG
CAMP—AT
NULLAGINE—THE
CON
GLOMERATE FORMATION—A
STROLL AROUND ITS
LEASES—-A
GLANCE AT ITS
MORALS—
A DANGEROUS
RIDE—CUB
HUNTING
IN THE NORTH-W"EST—A
NATIVE
BANQUET—
MARBLE
BAR:
ITS
MINES
AND ITS MONUMENTAL
GOVERNMENT
OFFICES—"Ho!
Ho!
MERRY
JAPAN!"
(BY
S. H. WHITTAKER.)
.
CHAPTER XXVI.
A PEEP AT
TALGA
TALGA—THE
FATAL
HEAT—IN
PRAISE
OF OUR TEAMS—A
HORRIBLE
EXPERIENCE—THE
INHUMANITY
OF THE PUBLIC
WORKS
DEPARTMENT—INDICATIONS
OF A STORM—FULFILMENT
OF THE INDICATIONS—ON
THE HOMEWARD
JOURNEY—A
CHOW'S
LUCKY
FIND—A
SURPRISE
PARTY—A
TROOPER'S
LIFE
IN THE NORTH-WEST.
(BY
S. H. WHITTAKER.)
.
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE
HONG
KONG
LEASE—THE
GOVERNMENT
SURVEY
PARTY—LAST
STAGES—BACK
AT THE
SHERLOCK—RACING
THE RAIN—DEATH
OF LEONARD
CALVERT—FROM
ROEBOURNE
TO COSSACK—ON
BOARD
THE TAGLIAFERRO—En
Route FOR THE
SOUTH.
(BY
S. H.
WHITTAKER.)
.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A LITTLE
BLOW-UP
ON THE SWAN—A
FULL,
TRUE,
AND
PARTICULAR
ACCOUNT
OF THE
SAME.
(BY
WALKER
HODGSON.)
.
CHAPTER XXIX.
A FEW
NOTES
HOMEWARD
BOUND.
(BY
WALKER
HODGSON.)
.
CALVERT, ALBERT FREDERICK (1872-1946), author, traveller and mining
engineer, was born on 20 July 1872 at Kentish Town, Middlesex, England, son of
John Calvert, mining engineer, and his wife Grace, née Easley. He was brought
up principally by his grandfather John Calvert (1814-1897), a widely travelled
mineralogist who claimed extensive gold discoveries in Australia in the 1840s.
Leaves from the Calvert Papers (1893) by Albert's secretary G. Hill is a
misleading account of his family history.
Calvert first visited Western Australia early in 1890 and in April undertook
an expedition from Lake Gairdner in South Australia to the upper Murchison
River. In April 1891 and December 1892, he practically repeated the trip on
behalf of the General Exploration Co. of London and the British Australian
Exploration Co. His most important discovery was the rare spinifex parakeet.
Before the third journey, Calvert circumnavigated Australia collecting
material for his book, The Discovery of Australia (London, 1893). Returning to
London, he married Florence Holcombe at Kentish Town on 28 March 1894.
In November 1895 Calvert landed at Albany with his fourteen-year-old brother
Leonard and two menservants. He was joined by a journalist, an artist, his
private secretary and a mining engineer. They visited Perth and the eastern
goldfields, were fêted socially, sailed for Roebourne and, leaving the ailing
Leonard at the port, visited the inland diggings. Calvert returned to
Roebourne on 4 January 1896 with sunstroke; Leonard died of typhoid on the
11th. Calvert visited Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney before returning to
London where he published My Fourth Tour in Western Australia (1897).
In January 1896 the Royal Geographical Society (South Australia) accepted his
offer to finance an expedition to search for Leichhardt and open a stock route
from the Northern Territory to the western goldfields; L. A. Wells was
appointed leader. Although new country including the Calvert Range was
examined, Charles Wells and George Jones were lost in the desert and died.
When Calvert was unable to meet the expedition's expenses, he was publicly
derided.
As a mining investment consultant and as a prolific writer, for a decade he
was obsessed with Western Australia. Described in London as 'Westralia's
golden prophet', Calvert was courted, wined and dined, and indulged in
yachting, motoring and racing. His West Australian Review, published in London
in 1893-94, dealt mainly in mining information, commentaries and forecasts.
His fourteen other Australian books covering forests, Aboriginals, pearls,
history, minerals and his own travels were cheap, readable and topical, but
often careless.
Calvert was managing director of Big Blow Gold Mines and Consolidated Gold
Mines of Western Australia on the Pilbarra goldfields, and consulting engineer
for the Mallina gold-mines. Management difficulties, his distaste for
Federation and a bankruptcy caused by racing losses in 1898 killed his
interest in Australia and he turned to a new area. Thirty-six books on Spain
and Spanish art published by 1924 won him appointment as a knight of the
Orders of Alfonso XII and of Isabella the Catholic.
After a visit to Nigeria in 1910, Calvert published two books on that country
followed by five on German Africa published during World War I. In 1923 a
sister of the late Czar of Russia accused him of conspiracy to swindle her out
of her jewels, and won substantial damages; a criminal prosecution threatened
by the trial judge did not eventuate. Initiated as a Freemason in 1893, he
became something of an authority on Masonic history in later life, though his
work is not now highly regarded. Depending on Masonic help in his last years,
Calvert died of cerebro-vascular disease in the Archway Hospital, Islington,
London, on 27 June 1946, survived by his wife and four sons.
Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography : http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070532b.htm
Illustrations from the ebook reduced in size from those
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