Mine Superintendents House

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value for its landmark quality because of its isolated location on top of a hill at the southern end of the townsite, and overlooking the mine and Gwalia Townsite. The place has historic value for its direct link to the gold mining operations that took place at Gwalia between 1898-1963, as one of the most productive gold mines outside Kalgoorlie.

Physical Description

The Manager's House is a single-storey building constructed of local clay brick and is covered with a medium pitched, hipped roof.
The substantial house is sited on elevated ground overlooking the mine pit and town. The building is surrounded by garden, and a brick and timber picket fence.
The building is rectangular in plan and features a bullnosed verandah that protects the front and side facades. The front verandah has been enclosed at one end to accommodate two sleepouts.
Patterned brickwork surrounding openings, slender brick chimneys, and glazed side lights to the entrance door, relieve a bland exterior.
The interior comprises a central passage, with a large living and dining room, three bedrooms, kitchen, pantry and maid's room. The place retains its water tanks and outbuildings.
Western Mining undertook conservation work of the House some time ago. As of February 1995, the verandah is in poor condition.

History

The Mine Manager's House is typical of the expansive style of home built for the senior men of the company. The site was chosen by Herbert Hoover, and its construction begun by him, though he was transferred to China before the building was complete. It is possible that Hoover stayed in the house while visiting the area after returning from China.,
The house is constructed of locally-made brick, fired nearby, and bought under a contract which supplied bricks at £2/10/0 per thousand, plus supply of fuel. The building was finished early in 1899, but not without complaints from Bewick Moreing's head office in Coolgardie where management were upset by the fact that the London board of director's had never expected to spend £750 on the manager's residence. Nevertheless less, two bedrooms were soon extended to double their original size.
Following the closure of the mine in 1963, the former Mine Office, Mine Manager's House and Assay Building were taken over by Western Mining Corporation who used the buildings as a mineral exploration base. The complex was vacated again, in 1971, when the company moved its operation to the former State Hotel (refer to site G2).
Since 1995, the former Mine Manager's House has been managed has been occupied by a caretaker.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY: High
AUTHENTICITY: High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.