Beer, a Coat, and a Kangaroo: A Goldfields Mystery

In the annals of bad financial decisions, most would warn you not to gamble your shirt on a horse. But in 1952, one Kalgoorlie miner discovered an even worse idea: putting your coat — and £260 in cash — on a kangaroo (worth appropriate $12,000 in today’s money).

According to a gem from The Kalgoorlie Miner, (2 December 1952) the trouble began with a successful kangaroo shoot in the Murchison. The skins sold well, the men cashed their cheque, and one local chap found himself with £260 tucked securely in his coat pocket. What could possibly go wrong?

Cue the celebratory drinks. And the kangaroo.

Apparently one of the blokes had brought a young joey back from the bush as a living souvenir. Naturally, when you're a few beers in and have a kangaroo in your company, the next logical step is to… play dress-up?

As the story goes, the miner decided it’d be a laugh to put his coat — yes, the one with the money in it — on the joey. A few chuckles were had. The kangaroo was unimpressed. And then — in a scene that probably played out in slow motion for the unfortunate miner — the marsupial bolted. With the coat. And the cash.

Despite frantic efforts, neither coat, kangaroo, nor cash were ever seen again. It’s unclear whether the roo was simply startled or whether it recognised a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hop away with a fortune. Either way, it’s likely still being spoken of in kangaroo legend as “The Great Escape.”

Moral of the story?

If you must share your beer with a kangaroo, fine. But maybe leave your wallet out of it.

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Goldfields history is full of unexpected twists, cheeky mishaps, and unforgettable characters — and we’d love to hear yours!

💬 Did your uncle once lose a ute to a camel?
🎩 Or perhaps your nan served tea to a visiting prince?
🦘 Any kangaroo-related crimes you'd care to confess?

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