Biography

A 37 year old John Holland took on the challenge to cut a direct 500km route from Broomehill to Gnarlbine Rock south of Coolgardie. A few had tried to accomplish cutting a direct route before Holland, but failed. John Holland and his small crew including Rudolph Krakouer, David Krakouer & John Carmody, managed to cut the entire track in just 65 days. This was done with no fossil fuelled machinery and no GPS systems or aerial mapping either. It must be remembered that there were no combustion vehicles around in the 1890's. Transport was by horse and wagon or on foot. Holland and his crew were the first non-indigenous people to travel through this bushland and cut their way through. Although born in Perth, Mr. Holland later lived at Broome Hill, and came to Coolgardie in 1893, leading his party overland. During this trip, he not only opened up a cart track to the goldfields that saved nearly a fortnight's travelling, but numerous lakes and mountains were discovered and named. The late Mr. Holland took part in the rush to Hannan's, but later returned to Coolgardie where he resided for over 40 years. The funeral took place on Tuesday morning, the remains being laid to rest in the old cemetery, where his wife was buried many years before.