Story by Graham Williams
As a first year electrical apprentice I was sent to Port Hedland in 1960 to carry out the electrical work on a large group of new State houses being built by George Thompson. I was left by myself to do the work, lived at the Esplanade hotel, and really looked after by a couple of the site carpenters. George Thompson built the houses in the old main incoming street Anderson I think, also some in Sutherland St overlooking the beach where we built a fish trap of fence posts and wire fencing. We would wait for the tide to go out and then nearly always had a choice of the fish to eat, caught turtles and other things as well.
1962 State Housing at 31 Moore Street, Port Hedland
1960 Esplanade Hotel, Port Hedland
I remember the painting contractor Jimmy Nicolakis from Geraldton rowed a dingy over to Finucane Island and came back with the greatest array of large and coloured sea shells. I added lights and bases to some of them and gave them away as presents.
After completing the State houses, we upgraded St Cecilia’s Convent and Father O’ Sullivan presbytery before he left for Good. By the way because I had spare time on the job I did the mail run into town each day and got some small items for the carpenters from Elder Smith. One day the police sergeant asked me would I give him a lift back to the station. There he said come in Graham, what for I asked……so I can give you a drivers license….was his reply.
One day I met the Bill and Flo Kane’s family from Kingsmill Street, Port Hedland.
Bill Kane on the far right, PH Airport.
In my spare time I was allowed to help Bill refuel the aircraft at the Port Hedland Airport so got to know one of the best men of the Pilbara. Bill Kane owned and trained RED WARRIOR, the best horse to race in Port Hedland, ref. Ron Solly.
I remember Bill well because once a month an old Aboriginal mate of his would walk in from the De Grey for his pension payment. Before leaving he would go to see Bill, do a little garden weeding and be handed a large meat and salad sandwich with one only large bottle of Swan Lager. Bill would sit by his side under the shade of a tree and it was so clear how much they meant to each other. Bill must have told him I was a new migrant so the next thing was an invitation to attend a corroboree going to be held on the De Grey River bed to bring a young man into adulthood. What an great invitation this turned out to be. We sat a good distance away from the actual scene but could clearly see and hear all the ceremony. This night made me realise what a great gift we have in having such wonderful people alongside us.
I have just read Jack McPhee’s life story and learned how cruel and uncaring our early government institutions were to all these people especially in the Pilbara. The best any white person can do is to give our Aboriginal brothers and sisters a big smile and a handshake when possible.
Written on 23 May 2017
Contact details supplied.
Hi Julie,
Just a little bit of my history in Port Hedland. I was married in Busselton in 1967 and my new husband and I made our home in Port Hedland. We were the first to move into a finished house on Spinifex Hill. We lived in a duplex in Clark Street Port Hedland. I can remember my husband going to work at 6am evey morning seven days a week. The electricity and water going off at 8.00am every day and coming back on at 5.00pm every night. The only radio station we could get was short wave, but even though there were hardships I really loved Port Hedland and still call it home.
Thank you Daphne for sharing your memories of Port Hedland.
Hey Julie,
I know Daphne, another local in them thar southern suburbs down Rockingham way.
Funny thing is I didn’t know that they spent time up in Hedland.
Here’s some goss, Daphne’s husband Grant was instrumental in naming the streets around the Spinifex Hill area, hence ‘Grant St’, so there you go…
Hey Daphne, did you know I did this site as a pro-bono for the Hedland folk?
Grant Place is actually named after Mr Mackenzie Grant from DeGrey station (c1868). cool story tho
G’day Peter,
The green coloured click on thing to get into “Why Port Hedland NOW?” has Hedland spelt as Headland.
I’m sure everyone would want that corrected, not just me.
Kudos for doing the site pro-bono. Great work Peter!
Cheers,
Tim.
Tim.
I have a bit of information about the early Hedland days, I miss the old days,there.
Hello Keith
Do you recall ‘The Grosse Cafe’?
(I would love to know more if it’s something you’re still able to share).
Kind regards,
Margaret
Excellent. I worked for the State Government Country Water Supply (CWS) based in Port Hedland in 1971, as an 18 year old from Perth (WA). The CWS office / camp / workshop was on Anderson Street where Leap Park is now in Port Hedland. Initially I secured a job with the Deakin Shearing Team as a shed hand, and our first stop from Perth was Boodarie Sheep Station in the Hedland area. One day a few of us from the Station drove to Port Hedland to have a look around (I think it was a Saturday). I walked into the front office of the CWS and asked if they had any jobs for a general hand / driver. The guy at the counter said yes, start Monday.
When we returned to Boodarie Sheep Station I decided to leave, so on the Sunday night I packed my bag and started to hitchhike into Hedland. It wasn’t long before I got lift in a big rig truck right into Port Hedland. I slept the Sunday night on the floor of the toilet below the Police Station on Anderson Street, which was directly across the road from the CWS. I thought that would be the safest place to stay, and the door to the ground floor toilet was unlocked (I don’t think it was ever locked). No one bothered me as I slept there, not even the Police. Monday morning I attended at the CWS across the road and started work.
I loved living and working in Hedland in 1971, and still miss those times. I returned to Perth the following year to start full-time TAFE studies, and subsequent Uni studies, and ended up working at Uni. Now retired.
Hi All,
I have just stumbled on this site as I was googling pics of the Port Hedland Post Office. My father Lloyd Eaton was Post master there from 1971-1975. I was ten at the time when we relocated there from Bunbury WA, and have many memories of this time. Lots of beautiful fish and fishing, swimming endlessly at the Gratwick memorial pool and attending St Cecilia’s convent. Many families were new to the area and everyone socialised a lot! We lived at Spinifex Hill in a house with no air conditioning and remember the heat of the summers and the beautiful winters. My name is Alison (Eaton).
Thanks for sharing your comments – what a great find!
Hi Alison,
Thank you for visiting our website. My father Colin Matheson worked at the Port Hedland Post Office at the same time as your father did. Do you have any photos of Port Hedland that you can share? Regards Julie
Hi Julie,
Jack McPhee was my Great Grandfather his oldest Daughter Mareen Jackamarra nee McPhee is my Grandmother my Family are the Pianta’s and McPhee’s both familes being 1 of the first few families to live here in Hedland 🙂
Hello everyone
I am happy to have found this information. It’s nice to see how everyone is connected to Port Hedland.
I’m actually looking for information about The Grosse Cafe (Fred and Else Grosse … and perhaps Herb and Joyce Grime?) if anyone is in a position to help, please?
Thank you,
Margaret