Town Entry

Statement of Significance

Town entry (battery) is significant in representing the gold mining history of Meekatharra.

History

A battery, also sometimes referred to as a crushing mill, was used to retrieve the gold from the ore, with associated dressing, cyanide and smelting facilities. 'State' batteries were established by the government to assist prospectors who could not provide their own facilities and whose relatively small ore quantities did not warrant the prices charged by commercial operations. Most large mines had their own battery. The Meekatharra Battery was established in 1901 and operated continuously until 1987, even during the periods when there was not a single large mine operating in the region. Through the depression and World War Two when no large gold mines operating in the Murchison, the battlers could still have their ore crushed at the battery. The Battery treated 290,927 tons of ore for a return of 208,219 ounces of gold. Associated with the operation were the assay office, strong-room and the battery manager's house as well as the tailing dumps and settling ponds. The buildings were demolished in 1994 and a five stamp battery and Berdan pan were installed as an entrance statement to the Meekatharra town site. The safe, too heavy to move, remained on the empty concrete pad.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate Degree

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.