Hi
I have already spent several days in the WA SRO and have determined that arrivals info into Esperance were only recorded for a couple of years in the early 1890's and not thereafter.
I have no idea of when they left Victoria - this is what I am trying to determine. Mary and Clair appear on the electoral roll in Kalgoorlie in 1906 so we know they were there by then. I'd guess they didn't leave until after their mother died so the time frame is thus 1896-1906.
I know they arrived in WA via Esperance as Claire's son recalls her telling him this.
In Ernie Old's book "By Bread Alone" he indicates that when he did his cycle ride from Melbourne to Perth and caught up with Mary and Clare in Norseman he hadn't seen them for 42 years. He did this ride in 1948 so this thus indicates departure from Victoria ~1906.
Death certs in WA no longer indicate time in colony (if they ever did) Mary and Claire died in 1965 and 1970 respectively
Alan