Biography

The deceased was the fourth child (son) of Mabel and James Kirkham, who owned the Reward Hotel, Siberia. Planted at the child's grave, in his memory, is a bougainvillea which is now over 114 years old and is watered by visiting prospectors, locals, tourists and visitors to the area. It may be because of this loving care, or the loving vow of Mrs Kirkham that this plant will never die because "Her heart is buried under it."

Attached is a photograph of a quilt made by Frances Shifferli in 2017 to commemorate the story of the Bougainvillea Bush at Siberia.  The small figure in the background of the quilt is a photo of Maureen, Mabel Kirkham's great, great granddaughter, taken in 2016.  Frances offers the following story:

‘Water on my Heart’… a quilt, with a story, by Frances Schifferli                                                                                         

At the turn of the last century, James and Mabel Kirkham arrived from Victoria, to try their luck in the Kalgoorlie goldfields.  James set up a hotel in Siberia, now a ghost town situated 80ks north-west of Kalgoorlie, near Ora Banda. In 1903, Mabel lost her newborn son, who was buried in the nearby cemetery.  She planted a bougainvillea when the family left Siberia.  She said to her remaining neighbours, ‘This plant must never die, as my heart is buried beneath it.’ It was watered regularly over the years by the remaining town folk, until eventually only members of the Argus family, who had a station property nearby, remained. In later years the property was sold to mining interests and the bougainvillea neglected. The bush struggled for survival.
 
In 2002, Harry Argus and his sister Eileen, remembering Mabel’s request, sought out the plant once again. It was found close to death.  They set up a watering station with a rain gauge so others, who fossicked around the ghost town, could water the bougainvillea. A running record of visitors has been kept in the Guest Book stored there, in a waterproof tin.

People from all over Australia and many parts of the world, including China, India, the USA and the Philippines have indeed poured water on Mabel’s heart and left their messages in the guest book.

The ground was littered with their ‘calling cards’, like memory stones— fossicked rocks, weathered- smooth broken wine bottles, pieces of crockery and bits of rusted iron. 

Frances visited this site in November 2016, together with Vic and Maureen, whose great grandmother planted the bougainvillea. Maureen lives in Waikerie, South Australia, and was aware of its existence but had not seen it. It was a very moving occasion when the plant was discovered and the story revealed itself.   Mabel Kirkham’s story cried out to be told in a quilt.  Frances designed Water on My Heart in 2017.  It was displayed at the West Australian Quilting Exhibition in May of that year and won first prize in the themed section, A New Heart. The quilt has been given to Maureen and she displays it proudly in her home.

In a recent visit to the bush in October 2022, Frances noticed that the second book has been filled with more moving messages. The original watering station has been modified by a Kirkham relative, with a substantial metal fence and a brass plaque telling the Kirkham story.  New pieces of fossicked rocks and odds and ends lie scattered around saying, ‘I’ve been here and watered the bougainvillea.’

James Kirkham was born 21 June 1873 at Nerring, Victoria (Birth Registration 16151/1873, Nerring).  He married Mabel Gertrude Hamlyn on 23 November 1894 at Eaglehawk, Victoria (Marriage Registration 6534/1895).  Their first child, Eleanor (Nell) Draxey, was born in Kerang, Victoria, 27 February 1896 in Sandhurst, Victoria (Birth Registration 12577/1894, Kerang).  The little family then moved to Western Australia, where the following children were born: Olive Marian born Coolgardie 1898 (Birth Registration 575/1898); James Malster born 1900 at Carnage (Birth Registration 636/1900); Doreen Fay born Fimiston 1903 (Birth Registration 1382/1903); Frederick De Banks born 1905 at Fremantle (Birth Registration 2622/1905).

Interestingly, around 1917/1918, James Kirkham bought a picture show business in Port Augusta, South Australia, and built it up into a large enterprise, called Kirkham's Pictures.  His first showing was in 1918.

James Kirkham died 9 April 1934 at Port Augusta, South Australia, and his wife died there in October 1965.