Windarra Heritage Trail

Values

The place is rare as a site containing remnants of a nickel mine in Western Australia.

The place is a significant cultural environment informing of a considerable mining presence as evidenced by the monolithic concrete remains and steel frame headframe that are landmarks in the otherwise sparse goldfields landscape.

The place represents the only tangible remains of the extraordinary history of the nickel find at the site. The Poseidon led stock boom was a significant event in mining history in Australia and internationally, and resulted in the establishment of the site of the Windarra Nickel project in the early 1970s.

The place has the potential to inform of scientific and mining practices that may no longer be undertaken.

The place is representative of a nickel treatment project that has been all but removed from the site, with only monolithic concrete elements and a steel headframe to inform of its presence.

The place is associated with the 1970s economic boom, resulting in the regeneration of the building stock of St Georges Terrace.

Physical Description

‘Windarra heritage trail comprises a gravel access road from the north side, after traversing the east side of the site. Another gravel track to the west, accesses the discovery drill hole, and the office complex (not shown on the map). The office complex is an expansive single storey concrete structure with evidence of an extensive high tech fitout (including communication tower), as well as a considerable number of offices, meeting rooms, extensive male and female change rooms and ablution facilities, and recreation areas at the rear (north). Located immediately adjacent on the east side of the office facility is an expansive concrete area where a number of transportable facilities were located. Adjacent to the front entry of the office complex there is a row of steel framed carports. When accessing the orientation point of the heritage walk trail, from the north to the main carpark, a number of concrete frames are evident as support elements for conveyors between the mine entry portal (north) and the crusher ruins that are also evident to the south. The crusher ruins are a dominant concrete element on the site. Site amenities for visitors have been located within the visual scope of the remains of the crusher. The steel framed headframe, also west of the pedestrian trail is dominant on the site. The remains of the fine ore bins are also reinforced concrete structures. As indicated by the interpretive text on the site, these elements were merely support structures for enormous bins that were located above them. Further south on the trail are the remains of the ball mills, forming a linear element, east west across the site. The reinforced concrete elements are seriously deteriorated. South of the ball mills is a single concrete frame atop a rise. East of the ball mills is a square reinforced concrete form that is the remains of the gold vault.



On the east side of the road access to the site, is the diamond drill mast, a simple vertical steel structure. It is located on the west side of the expansive west embankment wall of the waste ponds.



The portal entry to the underground mine and the site of the accommodation village, 0.5 kilometres further north, were not accessed. From a short distance, there are no obvious remains of the power station that is indicated on the heritage trail.

History

‘In April 1969, Ken Shirley reported to his employer Poseidon NL, he had located nickel bearing rocks just south of Mount Windarra, and had pegged some 40 claims in the area. What followed was a run on Poseidon shares felt around the world. Although the ore body was not as rich as first thought, it was good enough to set up a viable mine at Mount Windarra, with production beginning in 1974.’

‘Windarra was an underground mine, although where the ore body reached the surface, some open cut mining was carried out. The discovery of an adequate water supply near Windarra meant that a processing plant could be built at the site, thus avoiding the cartage of the bulk material to Kalgoorlie. The large workforce was initially housed at the mine site and a village was built complete with a shop, post office and swimming pool. Up to 400 people were accommodated at one stage. However, a decision was made to house families in Laverton and to keep the village for single workers. Laverton was redeveloped for this purpose.’

‘Ownership and management changed over the years. The Mount Windarra plant was de-commissioned in 1994. It took two years to remove all the plant and equipment. The structures were demolished and sold as scrap and the ground was then cleared of all debris, ripped and top soiled. Seed was collected from local native plants and sown in the wet winter on 1996. Trees were planted by the school children of Laverton. The headframe and some massive foundations are all that are left to mark this mining site.’

Photographs on the trail document and interpretive panels on the heritage trail evidence that extensive change has taken place since the mine site was decommissioned in 1994. Apparently it took 2 years to remove most of the mining plant and equipment, although the offices were only abandoned as recently as 2-3 years ago.

The only remains on the site are predominantly reinforced concrete elements that have no recyclable or reuse value. The site was revegetated, further removing evidence of the processes and structures that were in place throughout the site during its active life.

Integrity/Authenticity

- Concrete remains -
Integrity- Low
Authenticity- High

Condition

Sound

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.