Great Fingall Mine Office (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Great Fingall Mine Office (fmr), a single-storey stone administrative and assay building in the Federation Italianate style, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
it is a well designed and solidly built stone building located in a remote part of Western Australia;
it is a unique demonstration of the combination of mine office and assay room purposely built for a prosperous mining company during Western Australia's gold boom at the turn of this century, and is of particular value in demonstrating the operations of an assay room; the growth of the town of Day Dawn was largely a consequence of the wealth produced in the Great Fingall Mine, which operated from 1898 to 1918. The mine office, the only substantial building still standing in the former Day Dawn townsite, is a reminder of the historic importance of the mine and Day Dawn in the mining of the Murchison region; and,
it is an important reminder of the cycle of growth and decline of mining towns associated with the State's gold boom at the turn of this century..

Physical Description

This large building is of local stone construction with medium pitched, gable corrugated iron roofs. The surrounding verandahs have been removed while the wall plate still remains. It features recessed openings, roof vents for the circulation of air and large chimneys. The place has rendered lintels and sills. Internally, the rooms have fire places while a strong room is centrally located.

History

In 1891 gold was discovered at Day Dawn by Mr Ned Heffermen who pegged out what was known originally as the Day Dawn Reef. In 1898 Great Fingall Consolidated Ltd took over the reef and it was then known as the Great Fingall Mine. The office building was erected for the Great Fingall Mining Company about 1902. Italian stonemasons are believed to have been engaged by the company specifically to build the place, although this could not be confirmed in any sources of information. However, newspaper reports of the time describe the high number of Italians employed at the mine. One article states that the Fingall management are "notorious for their love of the Italians" and that almost 75% of miners were Italian. [Murchison Advocate, 18/2/1903, p4]. Another article says that The Great Fingall was becoming known as "The Great Dago". [15/5/1902, p3] The Murchison Advocate commented on 23 August, 1902 that the offices: "are built of dressed stone and evidently no expense has been spared in making them not only an architectural beauty to Day Dawn, but also an object lesson for the Murchison in mason work. The rooms are lofty, windows numerous, and the whole structure is surrounded by a wide and massive verandah." [23/8/1902] An earlier article in the same newspaper says: "Among the many improvements which are going on are new stone offices, included in them a strong room which is regarded as the largest in these parts." [7/6/1902, p2] Since the closure of the mine in April 1918, the place has fallen into disrepair.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Degree

Condition

Fair

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.