Among the Fields of Gold – Photographs by Charley Nadin ( Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia / Kalgoorlie )

WEST AUSTRALIANA ARCHITECTURE MINING

What is left of a legacy of magnificent buildings, stunning architecture and artifacts of the golden era of the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia? What remains as ruins or fine architecture? These were places built in a desert where no infrastructure existed. The establishment of these places is a cornerstone of the history and wealth of the state which continues to this day. This is architecture of the gold rush. Doctor Charley Nadin recognised the value and historical importance to the nation of this golden architectural era. Charley photographed and virtually preserved these beautiful buildings during a twenty year relationship with the Eastern Goldfields. Fields of Gold is one man’s contribution to raising greater awareness of a remarkable place at a remarkable time in Australian history”—The photographs in this book are a marvellous representation of Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields. They are more than pictures, they are a record of the endeavours of people who founded the towns, settlements and mines of the area. The pictures are a display of something more than just dwellings and man made structures. They reveal people trying to find their place in the rather harsh landscape in an attempt to establish homes and identities. Their success is clearly seen in the pictures in this book. —This collection of photographs is a combination of two levels of skill or artistry. The first level is that of the builders and people who lived and worked in these places. The second is that of the photographer who recognised the efforts of those early artisans and captured their labours for posterity. They are voices from the past and their struggle and achievement is on display. 

First Edition. Scarce. 200 pages : photographs (some colour), facsimiles, 1 colour map, portraits ; 24 x 29 cm

Historic buildings — Western Australia — Eastern Goldfields — Pictorial works.  |  Gold mines and mining — Western Australia — Eastern Goldfields — History.  |  Eastern Goldfields (W.A.) — Pictorial works.  |  Eastern Goldfields (W.A.) — History.  |  Australian