Born in England in August 1829, William Goldwyer emigrated to Western Australia and was appointed a night warder to the Convict Establishment in March 1853.
Fluent in Aboriginal languages and renowned for his bushcraft, he often undertook the dangerous task of carrying the monthly mail from Perth to Champion Bay.
Shortly after arriving in the area, Goldwyer set out with Frederick Panter and James Harding to explore around La Grange.
Brown's La Grange expedition party eventually found the three men dead, having been clubbed and speared to death.
The bodies of Panter, Harding and Goldwyer were returned to Perth, where thousands of spectators attended their public funeral.