Jerdacuttup River Komatiites

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Magnesite Mine

Condition

Derelict buildings and large heaps of magnesite

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

In 1960 prospectors M Latoc and G Halberts of Esperance found white magnesite L5 mnes cum ui Ravensthorpe at Bandalup Creek close to Highway No. I. It was said to be the world's purest deposit. Basic Minerals Pty Ltd mined the magnesite and large quantities were taken by road to ship out through Esperance Port. Magnesite is used in the manufacture of refractory bricks, cements and flooring and as a magnesium metal in medicines.

Condition

Derelict buildings and large heaps of magnesite

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Fitzgerald River National Park (1989 Boundary)

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Carlingup Homestead and Fresh Water Spring

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

In me 1870's Moirs of Fanny Cove took up a pastoral lease at Getenmellup, more commonly known as Carlingup. The fresh water springs here not only provided water for the family and stock but also for travellers commuting between Cocananip, then Hawk's Nest and later Ravensthorpe to Fanny Cove and Bsperance. William and his wife, Eliza, had seven sons and one daughter. In 1901 William, always known as "Old Settler', was the first butcher at Hawk's Nest in 1899 and delivered the meat to this and other mining campsites in a cart. Soon after, he built a butcher's shop in Ravensthorpe and meat was supplied from Carlingup. He built a house in Ravensthorpe on the comer of Moir and Spence Streets and moved his family into town in 1901 so that the children could go to Ravensthorpe School (the school opened with three of his sons in attendance). He was reputed for his home made brew and had a distillery at the Carlingup Homestead. There is a grave of baby Litchard Moir. bom 1.8.1908 and died 1.8.1909 at the farm.

Physical Description

Still on site is the stone built cottage, barn and drinking trough to which water gravitates from the three or four fresh water springs at Getenmcllup. There are old fruit trees and two Cyprus pines still alive.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Stone built cottage, bam and drinking trough. Fruit trees and 2 Cyprus pines Modifications: Asbestos addition to back of house

Condition

Good

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

John Dunn Grave

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

John Dunn was speared by natives Dartaban and Yargalla near Cocanarup on 25 March 1880.

Physical Description

Headstone - The sturdy wooden cross which marked the spot where John Dunn was killed was removed to Ravensihorpe Museum because the base suffered termite attack.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: All Intact Modifications: Headstone

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Cordingup Dam

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

15th March 1906 Robert Dunn wrote to the Phillips River Times with advice of a good fresh water site he knew of on the Cordingup Creek. He had discovered this many years before whilst carting Sandalwood in Skin Ann Harbour.

Physical Description

1909 Phillips River Road Board had a major dam planned. Cordingup Dam has a pumping station and it is still in use today. Capacity 20.000,000 gallons in 1909.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Cordingup Farm House

Condition

Sound, but needs renovation

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

The house was built for the Elverdton Mine Manager. It was moved down the hill from Desmond lo its present location by Arthur Chambers on a jinker with horses. The jinker had three long salmon gums in a triangle with two wheels on each of the corners.

Physical Description

This is a fine building and well worth restoring.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Mostly Intact Modifications: Moved 1923 to Cordingup Farm

Condition

Sound, but needs renovations

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Avenue of Old Salmon Gums

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Physical Description

E. Salmonopholia - Salmon Gum. Around Ravensthorpe there are good stands of Salmon Gum Trees which identify the area.

Condition

Good

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Wehr Bros Processing Plant

Condition

Historical Society advises this plant is slowing disappearing; very little left.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

The Wehr Bros, fourth generation Australians, whose parents had come from South Australia were born in Albany. They were described as resourceful, had a winning quality, independent and without fanfare. In 1945 ■ 1950 brothers Hans and Werner set up a processing plant near the Cordingup Dam when they transferred their operation to Ravensthorpe at the end of 1942 from Southern Cross. All buildings were constructed from second hand material as there was no other at the time. They travelled many miles to procure second hand machinery and equipment from other mining areas, which they carted back on an old lend/lease truck powered by a gas producer. It look them a week to bring a big round crusher from Esperance to Ravensthorpe. They removed the Metallurgical Institute building from Ravensthorpe to Cordingup for a laboratory in 1944. They removed one furnace from the No 2 Government Smelter. Hans studied until he qualified as an assayer and in 1953 the Wehr Bros offered trace elements for trial plots on farms. They succeeded in separating copper sulphate from the ore. This was sold to copper deficient agricultural areas, such as Corrigin and Ml Barker. Later it was used on new land farms in the Ravensthorpe Shire together with zinc and molybdomen. Hans worked out his own process and proved that gold could be separated from copper ore. They eventually sold the processing method to a mining company for twenty thousand pounds. His method was used at Elverdton Copper Mine when it was reopened 1956-1971.

Physical Description

The Web- brothers had three treatment processes - a crushing plant, a small smelting plant and an oil flotation process. They also had a set of Wilfley tables. The froth flotation plant extracted 100%of the ore treated.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Ruins

Condition

Ruins

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Desmond Hotel site

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

In 1905 the Desmond Hotel (a small building) was built by Henry Scarlett. !n 1906 new additions and renovations were announced by its owners, E Barntit & Co of Albany and James Sinclair was appointed as its new publican. In 1909 Charles McKenzie of Kundip Halfway House Hotel bought the Hotel and patrons farewelled the outgoing publican, Mr Bluett and his wife and welcomed the new owners. McKenzie faced competition when an application for a licence to sell liquor was lodged for the Desmond Club by Joseph Allan. Sometime after 1930 the Desmond Hotel was pulled down and carted to Ravensthorpe where it became part of McGough's Eating House.

Physical Description

A wood and iron building with hip roof and front verandah.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: None

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Elverdton/Desmond Townsite

Child Places

• 14047 Old School Site

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Child Places

• 14047 Old School Site

Statement of Significance

In 1958 the townsite name reverted lo Elverdton and large scale mining resumed until 1971 (operated by "Norseman Gold N/L.) ] 50 men travelled by bus on a sealed road from Ravensthorpe each day. Some employees including the mine manager lived at Elverdton. There was a short burst of activity in 1989'90 when the site was used by Western Mining as a processing plant for Kundip Gold mines.

Physical Description

Bob Elverd found gold and later copper 12km south east of Ravensthorpe and the little town sprang up near this and other mines. It was named Elverdton and in June 1909, 32 town lots were surveyed 300 yards south of die Desmond Hotel. There was also a school, shops, boarding house, church, hall, hotel and private houses. In 1910 the name was changed to Desmond and it had a post office and large clubhouse. From 1911 interest in mining waned and people left the area. 1916 saw the official close of the townsite and the last person left in 1923. Buildings were moved away,

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: None except concrete slabs and fruit trees.

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Old School Site

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Parent Place or Precinct

14024 Elverdton/Desmond Townsite

Physical Description

The school was opened in 1909. First teacher was Mr Ilatlield.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: None

Condition

Site

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Fitzgerald Primary Schools

Condition

Historical Society advises this school was closed in 1993 and relocated to Ravensthorpe, where it is now used as a library / telecentre.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

The Fitzgerald school was opened February 1966 with 12 pupils. Wellstead's of Jacup successfully tendered for its demolition, when the new school was built, and removed it The second school was built by the Education Department at a cost of $52,000. This was built in asbestos and lined with stramit board (straw) and opened in 1967. Unfortunately this school burnt down in August of the same year from wood fired Wonderheat stoves placed straight onto wooden floors. A third school was built on the same site using the same design but with gas heaters and not stramit board. Pupils returned to the original settler shed while rebuilding took place. In 1997 the third building was relocated to Dunn Street. Lots 6 & 7, Ravensthorpe and is to be used as a agricultural centre.

Physical Description

It was an asbestos building 20 x 30ft with a concrete base and built by settlers in bush on Fitzgerald town site The pan toilets were also constructed in timber frame and corrugated iron. The principal lived in a caravan half a mile away.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: None

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Point Anne Hut

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Hatter's Hill Mines and Campsite

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Physical Description

There was a gap of 5 miles between the North and South End, as they were always referred to. Prospectors dug with a double end pick. Water was collected in tanks Prom buildings and when that ran out it was carted from Gibbs Rock catchment 4 miles away.

History

It is thought that Johnny Garrity discovered gold at Matters Hill at the beginning of the century. Prospectors came from Southern Cross, Kalgoorlie, Norseman and Ravenslhorpe. John Purchas of Ravensthorpe erected a three head stamp mill at the north end of the field. The field was abandoned in 1910. The Great Depression drove prospectors to the Hatter Hill Geld again to try and make a living. In 1930 WII Toleman and JI-IJ Guyer found gold at the south end of the field. In 1932 a five head government battery from the Gem Mine, Kundip was dismantled and transferred to Hatters Hill by the Haiiers Hill Battery Syndicate made up of FE Daw, CC Daw, WH Toleman, JHJ Guyer, AB Chapman, GB King. L Hambly and P White. They bought a 20 horsepower diesel motor and Crossley model TS4 crude oil engine for crushing. Prospectors paid for crushing on a sliding scale. Crushing commenced January 1933 and the plant ran day and night. Bi-weekly. Ron Hewson who owned the Lake King Store delivered stores and mining requirements, Children were taught by correspondence or by their older sisters. Some families had wirelesses, they played tennis, football (children in bear feet), cricket, bridge, whist and bagpipes for New Year. Water was collected in tanks from buildings and when that ran out it was carted from Gibbs Rock catchment four miles away. There was a two wheel track to Lake King. The population rose to 58 in 1934. The nearest doctor was in Ravensthorpe with one prospector's wife as a nurse. In 1936 prospectors requested the Phillips River Road Board for mail service, school and road repairs. Nothing came of it and the following year volunteers did the road repairs. The last family lo leave were the Toleman's in December 1944. Names of mines - C&H, Sunday Gift, Ml Agnes, Reward, King George, North and South, Deo, Juvante. Gold produced from 1905-1910 at Ml Agnes Reward 230.51 fine ounces,

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: None

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Head's Trial Smelter

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

A "Reliance" smelting furnace built by Mr Robert William Heads (who originally came from England in 1884 to NSW and had been running a small smelter at Greenbushes WA), near Hawk's Nest, on the west side of Cattlin Creek was a trial smelter to extract gold from copper. A full description of how the smelter worked is recorded in 'A History of Mining at Ravensthorpe Western Australia' by Mr Keith Quartermaine Heads was embarrassed by the amount of ore to be smeltered and a new government smelter was built at Cordingup.

Physical Description

The furnace had a small round jacket similar in the body to an ordinary round copper smelting blast furnace, but with a closed top and an adjustable crucible.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Very little remains are still on site.

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Dunn's Swamp

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

Fresh water for early settlers. Today - scenic value.

Physical Description

In 1877 the Dunn Bros built a cottage and shearing shed here to make use of the fresh water and to be close to tlie sea for ease of transporting wool and hides. The old railway embankment is very close by. It is now a tranquil spot for sightseeing, picnics, bird watching and yabbying..

History

Water was pumped from here to Jerdacuttup Siding (also known as 6 Mile) for railway steam engines and to supply Ravensthorpe via rail in dry years.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Granny Gibson's House

Condition

Historical Society advises that the materials from this place were sold off and a new house built on the site.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

This was formerly the doctor's house in Ravensthorpe which was situated behind the old hospital to the south. As children came from visiting the doctor they carved their initials on the salmon gum tree. It was sold to Hugh Marrs and transported to Marrs Bros Hopetoun Farm. Later it was moved from the farm to Lot 72 Veal Street Hopetoun. The building was dismantled in 1997 and is now in storage to be rebuilt as a museum on Ravensthorpe Shire Council land on the Esplanade.

Physical Description

The house is a timber frame construction with corrugated iron walls and roof and placed on stumps. It has a verandah at the front.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Mostly Intact Modifications: Relocated Twice

Condition

Average

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Lighthouses

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

Samuel Dan Hunt (who later had the Hopetoun Fish Cannery) used to light the lighthouse on the end of the jetty.

Physical Description

From 1907 - 1908 the lighthouse was on a sandhill between die Port Hotel and Jetty. 190S/I909 a harbour light was erected on the steel angle iron tower, lamp room and fence. It was 45ft high and constructed like a windmill tower. It had a fence around the bottom with a long ladder up to the turret/balcony for the lighthouse keeper lo walk around to light the lamp. There was a second lighthouse on the end of the jetty 15ft high and when the jetty was extended it was shifted to the end.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: None

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Police Station and Goal

Condition

Average

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

In 1907 !he firs! policeman was stationed in Hopetoun and in 1910 additions to the building were carried out. The key of the cell was left with the postmaster in case of prisoner transfer from Ravensthorpe to go to Albany by boat. In 1913, the police station closed and the furnishings were taken to Ravensthorpe. It was then rented out and one of the tenants was the caretaker from the Railway Department.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: House and Lock-Up. Now incorporated into one dwelling. Modifications: Yes

Condition

Average

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update