The State Library of Western Australia holds a small collection of Dutch coins that tell an extraordinary story. Our Subject Specialist Librarian Peter Edwards shares the incredible story of this sunken treasure that has made its way through the years to find a home in the State Library’s rare collections. 

The coins come from the 1656 wreck near Ledge Point of the Dutch ship the Gilt Dragon [De Vergulde Draeke [(ver-hel-de Dray-Ahkk)]; and the 1727 wreck of the Dutch ship Zeewijk [zee-vehk] near Gun Island in the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. The coins from the Gilt Dragon were donated by Alan Robinson, the “Gelignite Buccaneer”, in 1968, and those from the Zeewijk were donated to the Library by Dominic Serventy in 1999.

Pieces of 8, Seagull Dinners, and Gelignite

Suzanne Franklin's keepsake is a picture of her great-great-grandmother, Alice Franklin, the Lady Mayoress of Perth and an unused leather-bound railway ticket to the official opening of Parliament House in 1927.

Alice's husband, James Thomas Franklin, was the last Mayor of Perth and the first Lord Mayor of Perth. In 1927, James and Alice were invited to the grand opening of Parliament House and given first-class railway tickets with sleeping berths from Sydney to Canberra and then Canberra to Perth. Many events and newspaper articles were written about them leaving for this historic event. 

The tickets went unused. A few days before departure, their eldest son George, 48, was run down on Bulwer Street while on his way to work. Alice and James stayed by his side in the hospital. George passed away two days later. On the day they were meant to be leaving, they buried their son.

A week later, they went to the opening of Parliament House to represent Western Australia and meet the Duke and Duchess of York, who they would soon be hosting in Perth.

As part of the State Library of Western Australia’s exhibition Keepsake: Cherished Family Mementos from the Collection, we asked The Chin Wagon to create a podcast series collecting stories from members of the public about their family treasures and heirlooms. Scrabble boards, cookbooks, medals, fishing lures, trinkets and tools. Why are these items so important to the people that hold onto them?

The Chin Wagon is a mobile recording studio designed to capture WA’s stories. Run by much-loved storytelling collective Barefaced Stories , The Chin Wagon provides a fun, cosy hearth for people to share their most treasured memories, tall tales or embarrassing spills. Andrea Gibbs interviewed seven members of the public in this mini podcast series.

Keepsake exhibition runs at the State Library of Western Australia until 4 February 2025.

Keepsake: Suzanne Franklin -  1927 Railway Ticket

The State Library of Western Australia collects and preserves Western Australian history. The State Library collects voices and stories through oral histories, diaries, journals, maps, photos, films, music and oral histories. Delve into WA history though our regular ABC Radio interviews "History Repeated"" series or listen to some of our live panel event recordings. Discover more about WA UFO files, nuclear testing and Bob Hawke's school report.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that the State Library of Western Australia's recordings of public talks may contain names and voices of people who are now deceased.

Keepsake: Suzanne Franklin - 1927 Railway Ticket

State Library of Western Australia

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