Culture and Leisure
Pantjiti Mary McLean at Nalda Searles home, 2002, courtesy of Nalda Searles
As a place where artists and entertainers changed trains, and where people qualified in all areas came to seek gold, art and especially music societies quickly developed. Orchestras, choirs and a Gilbert and Sullivan Society still continue. Boulder School in particular produced many talented pianists. Kalgoorlie rapidly developed a thriving musical community and audience. They have also made significant contributions to the visual arts, in jewellery design, painting and pottery.
Women were also important in the development of other recreational pursuits such as sporting clubs and other leisure activities. They played cricket, tennis, croquet and other sport. Going to the races remains a popular pastime in the goldfields.
Swimming was a popular recreation for women and children, especially during the summer heat. Coolgardie had municipal baths in 1900 and Kalgoorlie built the first Olympic size swimming pool in 1938. Young women had lessons on Tuesday nights from 6-7, while the men were having dinner. [1] It became easier for women to swim when mixed bathing was introduced in 1923 and many young couples met at the baths.
Women began competitive swimming in 1906, and in 1912 Nora Moffett came fourth in the Swim Thru event in Perth, while Ollie de Lacey won the event in 1936. [2]
The participation of women in these cultural and leisure activities enabled them not only to escape the routine domestic chores, but also to meet and make friends with other women.
Women's Stories
Read more about women from Kalgoorlie-Boulder in the Australian Women's Register.
- Lulu Benstead - Opera singer and performer
- Rica Erickson - Botanical illustrator, historian, naturalist and writer
- Maude Wordsworth James - Composer, jewellery designer and poet
- Eileen Joyce - Concert pianist
- Pantjiti Mary Mclean - Artist
- Amy Peirl - China painter, potter and teacher
- Zelda Radisich - Voluntary Aid Detachment worker, contortionist and hairdresser
- Nalda Searles - Artist and photographer
Audio
- Title
- Lorna Martin, buying shoes
- Type
- Interview
- Source
- Criena Fitzgerald
- Title
- Lorna Martin: Train to Coolgardie for a picnic
- Type
- Interview
- Source
- Criena Fitzgerald
- Title
- Mary Pantiji McLean and Nalda Searles - friendship and responsibilities
- Type
- Interview
- Source
- Criena Fitzgerald
- Title
- Nalda Searles discussing her Daisy Bates teapot
- Type
- Interview
- Source
- Criena Fitzgerald
- Title
- Nalda Searles talking about her No Grog art project in Kalgoorlie
- Type
- Interview
- Source
- Criena Fitzgerald
- Title
- Nalda Searles talking about the development of her work
- Type
- Interview
- Source
- Criena Fitzgerald
Images
- Title
- Coo-ee brooch by Maude Wordsworth James
- Type
- Image
- Source
- Dorothy Erickson
- Title
- Eileen Joyce
- Type
- Image
- Date
- c. 1940 - c. 1949
- Source
- Eastern Goldfields Historical Society
- Title
- Large basket
- Type
- Image
- Source
- Nalda Searles
- Title
- Lulu Benstead
- Type
- Image
- Source
- Outback Family History
- Title
- Maude Wordsworth James
- Type
- Image
- Source
- Robyn Horner
- Title
- Nalda Searles
- Type
- Image
- Source
- Nalda Searles
- Title
- Nalda Searles: Trading Teapot
- Type
- Image
- Source
- Nalda Searles
- Title
- Pantiji Mary McLean
- Type
- Image
- Date
- c. 1990
- Source
- Nalda Searles
- Title
- Pantiji Mary McLean at Nalda Searles home
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 2002
- Source
- Nalda Searles
- Title
- Pantjiti Mary McLean (sat down) and Nalda Searles
- Type
- Image
- Date
- c. 1990
- Source
- Nalda Searles
- Title
- Rica Erickson
- Type
- Image
- Source
- Dorothy Erickson
- Title
- Rica Erickson in her teens, Boulder
- Type
- Image
- Date
- c. 1920
- Source
- Dorothy Erickson
- Title
- Sturt's Desert Pea
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 1947
- Source
- Dorothy Erickson
- Title
- Whiteboy Blazer
- Type
- Image
- Date
- 1996
- Source
- Nalda Searles