WHIM CREEK In 1887, with the discovery of gold (20 kilometres north of the hotel) and copper in 1887, the town of Whim Creek was born. At its peak, the town sported two hotels, a blacksmith, a shop, stables and a horse track, to name a few of the local businesses.

Originally a post office known as "Whim Well", Whim Creek is on the North West Coastal Highway midway between Karratha and Port Hedland

... thanks to janilye for suggesting I add this bit of info about the Blackrock Stakes:- The Blackrock Stakes is a 122km race from Whim Creek to Port Hedland in which competitors, either in teams or as individuals, push a wheel barrows weighed down with iron ore. Like most good ideas, it was born over a few beers at a bar, in 1971 and what developed has raised more than $1 million for charity and caused grown men, women and children to lump a wheelbarrow full of iron ore from a remote mine site and into Port Hedland. Teams of 10, trios, duos and lone runners now push modified wheelbarrows containing 11 kgs of iron ore over the distance

In the late nineteenth century, this historic hotel was known as Delaney's Public House. During this time, it catered for weary and thirsty Pilbara pioneers, along with its competitor, Dunns Public House (later renamed the Federal Hotel). Since then it has been renamed the Whim Creek Hotel.

On the 23 December 1911 a brawl broke out in the Whim Creek Hotel which resulted in Frenchman Joseph SALENO stabbing 33 year old Thomas Henry DARLINGTON in the neck, thereby killing him.

Thomas was buried in Whim Creek Cemetery

On 20 March 192 some of the witnesses to this murder were shipped off to Perth to give evidence on the ship 'Crown of England'. However, a cyclone whipped up and the ship went down off Balla Balla, Depuch Island. Some of those who were drowned are buried in the
BALLA BALLA CEMETERY

After all this, Joseph Saleno only received a 3 years sentence for the murder

The Whim Creek Cemetery is located on the track to Balla Balla, about 18 kilometres from the town itself. The stories behind the deaths of those buried at the cemetery paint vivid pictures of the harsh conditions endured by pioneer miners in WA. Many of the men died from diseases that are now easily treated, such as mitral disease (heart disease); nephritis (kidney inflammation); gastritis; syncope (fainting); dengue and inflamed bowels.
There are 24 people known to be buried at the cemetery and only two of the graves marked with headstones.
In 2002 town resident Frank Woods set about restoring and beautifying the cemetery.

the burials in the WHIM CREEK CEMETERY are:

Barnadeo, J
- born about 188
- died 8 August 1913 aged 35
- he was a Miner
- he drowned at Negri Well

Darlington, Thomas Henry
- born about 1878
- he was murdered 23 December 1911 aged 33
- he was stabbed in the neck by Joseph Saleno during a drunken brawl
- he has one of the 2 headstones in this cemetey
- The murder of Thomas Darlington rocked WA?s tiny outback community of Whim Creek. Darlington was heavily involved in the infant union movement, and on the night of his death, trouble had been brewing at Dunn?s pub (Federal Hotel), where the miners were celebrating the Christmas season. Unionists were against ?scab? labourers, and fights had broken out, culminating in Frenchman Joseph Saleno stabbing Darlington in the neck in a drunken rage. Darlington died from his injuries and Saleno was arrested and sent to Roebourne Gaol for 3 years. Witnesses were then gathered in early 1912 and sailed on the Concordia and Crown of England to give evidence at the trial in Perth. A severe cyclone hit the ships and swamped them when they were near Depuch Island; all of the witnesses were lost or drowned. The bodies recovered were buried at either Depuch Island or Balla Balla.

Barnardeo, James
- born about 1878 in Lombardy, Italy
- died 8 August 1913 aged 35

Campbell, Daniel James
- born about 1837 in Queensland
- died 23 December 1911 aged 74
- he had the local store - see photo at bottom link

Davy, Charles
- born about 1864
- from Dry Creek, South Australia
- died 21 February 1920 aged 56
- husband of Emma

Donohue, William
- born about 1870
- he died in November 1894 aged 24 from dehydration
- he was a Miner

Eyre, George Henry
- born about 1867 in England
- he died from mitral disease & syncope on 18 February 1914 aged 47
- He was a miner

Fahey, Thomas
- born about 1855
- he died 1 August 1910 aged 45 from pneumonia at the police station at Whim Creek.
- He was a Miner

Farrera, John Edward
- born about 1881 in SOuth America
- he died 13 April 1923 aged 42 at the police station from nephritis and heart failure.
- He was a cook

Grey, Henry Banham
- born about 1874
- he died 12 September 1917 aged 38
- He was a miner.

Gilmore, Hugh
- born about 1854 in Ireland
- he died 15 August 1913 aged 59 of mitral incompetence and syncope
- he was a Cook

Gordon, Norman Harold
- born 16 August 1879 in Armidale, NSW
- he was accidentally killed 27 July 1907 aged 27
- he has one of the 2 headstones in this cemetey

Hartmann, John
- born about 1886
- he drowned on 7 May 1910 aged 24
- he was a mine labourer.

Just, Fritz
- born about 1846 in South Australia
- he died 22 March 1911 aged 45 years when he ell from a horse between Roebourne and Whim Creek
- He was a butcher.

Kimmerman, Harry
- born about 1872
- he did of dengue fever on 14 September 1917 aged 45
- He was a labourer

Leigh, James Alexander
- born about 1876 in New Zealnad
- he died 18 October 1913 aged 35 from shooting himself in the head at Sherlock River
- he was a Miner

McIntyre, John
- born abut 1852
- he died 1 October 1912 aged 60
- He was a station hand who died of heart failure at the residence of G. ADLAMS

Petersen, Peter
- born about 1890
- he died at the town's slaughter yard 26 Jan 1910 aged 20
- He was a carpenter

Piper, Cecil C.
- born in 1888 at Broken Hill, NSW
- youngest son of Richard PIPER & Lavinia DAVIDSON
- he drowned in Balla Balla Pool 1 March 1901 aged 19
- his father, Capt. Richard Piper, was the former underground manager of the Whim Creek Copper Mines Ltd, Whim Creek. He was also the inaugral Mayor of Broken Hill and well known in mining circles.
When his contract expired, Richard left the Creek for Balla Balla to go south.
- Cecil, employed on ore classing tables, decided to accompany his father on the Saturday afternoon. After seeing him off Sunday morning, Cecil and 3 mates decided on a swim. He dived into a very deep part of the pool and did not resurface the second time.
- his Funeral was held Monday with the Whim Creek Mine suspending operations.

Pope, Henry John
- born about 1876 from England
- he died accidentally 9 May 1912 aged 36
- He was a carpenter

Pope, Thomas
- born about 1852 in Ireland
- he died 14 December 1909 aged 57'
- he was a Miner.

Smith, Charles Edwin Silverston
- born about 1878
- he died 7 Jan 1911 age 33 of inflammed bowels at CAMPBELL'S house

Toon, A. H.
- born about 1862
- died 7 June 1912 aged 50

Thompson, Robert McGregor
- died 22 MArch 1912


PHOTOS OF THE DAY

DEPUCH ISLAND - 1912

WHIM WELL COPPER MINE - 1910

WHIM WELL TRAMWAY - delivering goods to Balla Balla 1912

STAFF OF WHIM WELL - 1910
* R. THORLEY, S. PARKES, A. A. HILL, T. J. HILL, C. W. H. SAUNDERS, H. J. ROBERTSON, F. B. KENNY, T. H. HAILE, W. HOVLAND

William HARRIS's STORE - Whim Crek 1910

INSIDE William HARRIS's STORE - Whim Creek 1910

carting wool MALLINA to BALLA BALLA - 1918