Southern Cross Attractions
On the edge of the wheat belt is the little township of Southern Cross (pop. 900). The first gold was found here in 1887 by two prospectors, Tom Risely and Mick Toomey, who were guided by the Southern Cross constellation. Thereafter the settlement became the center of the Yilgam goldfield, the first of the eastern goldfields of Western Australia. Close to the town are the opencast workings of Fraser's Mine, the most productive gold mine in the area and the one which remained in operation longest. Gold is still worked round Southern Cross, for example at Marble Loch to the south and Bullfinch to the north.
Among those who worked in the gold mine was the notorious Baron Swanston, as he called himself. In reality his name was Frederick Bailey Deeming and he was a multiple murderer who had killed his family in England and his wife in Melbourne. He was duly executed, and his crimes earned him a place in the Chamber of Horrors in London's Madame Tussaud's.
The old courthouse (1893) is now a museum.
Among those who worked in the gold mine was the notorious Baron Swanston, as he called himself. In reality his name was Frederick Bailey Deeming and he was a multiple murderer who had killed his family in England and his wife in Melbourne. He was duly executed, and his crimes earned him a place in the Chamber of Horrors in London's Madame Tussaud's.
The old courthouse (1893) is now a museum.
