Local Government
Northampton
Region
Midwest
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.
Location
Port Gregory Rd Northampton
Location Details
off Port Gregory Rd 6.4 k WNW of Northampton 28 deg 20' 40" S 114 deg 35' 10" E
Construction Date
Constructed from 1860
Demolition Year
N/AStatutory Heritage Listings
| Type | Status | Date | Documents | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage List | Adopted | 15 May 2020 | Shire of Northampton |
Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHP - To be assessed | Current | 25 Nov 2005 |
Other Heritage Listings and Surveys
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | More information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Description | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 19 Apr 1996 | Category 1A |
Category 1A |
Shire of Northampton |
| Mining Heritage Study | Completed | 30 Jun 1999 |
|
||
Values
The place is rare as a disused mine site from the 1860s in Western Australia.
The place represents the early aspirations of the Swan River Colony for economic development and independence.
The place has the potential to yield scientific information about the way of life in the 1860s as well as mining methods and processes of the time.
History
Situated about 3 miles north-west of the town of Northampton, the Wheal Fortune was worked for copper between 1859 and 1862 and for lead between 1862 and 1868. With its naming began the custom of using the word 'wheal' (Cornish for mine) to prefix mine titles in the area, a circumstance that gave a Cornish flavour to the local nomenclature. The mine was owned by an English company; the chairman of the directors of the Wheal Fortune Copper Mining Company was Mr. Lionel Samson of Fremantle. In its three years as a copper mine the Wheal Fortune produced 15,000 pounds of copper. Between 1862 and 1868 lead to the value of 30,000 pounds wa produced. In 1869 the mine was forced to close because the directors failed to provide the money necessary for its upkeep and development. Many of the buildings fell into ruin and the land was eventually used for sheep grazing. In his article 'The Champion Bay Country', Alfred Carson relates a story concerning the Wheal Fortune Mine during Governor Hampton's visit to the district in 1862:
"News had been received by the miners of an impending visit of the Governor. They were a patriotic band of Cornishmen, anxious to demonstrate fittingly their loyalty to the Queen and her representative. They had no cannon with which to fire a salute, and as the few fowling pieces they possessed would, they agreed, make a poor job of a 'feu de joie', they decided on using explosives for their purpose. Twenty-one charges of dynamite were accordingly laid out and the time fuses so arranged that explosions would take place at minute intervals. The plan was a complete success, the Governor receiving what must surely have been a unique Royal Salute."
Integrity/Authenticity
Integrity- Low
Authenticity- High
Condition
Poor
State Heritage Office library entries
| Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11569 | Landscapes of Redemption: Tracing the path of a Convict Miner in Western Australia | Heritage Study {Other} | 2010 |
Place Type
Other Built Type
Uses
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Present Use | VACANT\UNUSED | Vacant\Unused |
| Original Use | MINING | Other |
Historic Themes
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| OCCUPATIONS | Mining {incl. mineral processing} |
| DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Resource exploitation & depletion |
Creation Date
18 Mar 1997Publish place record online (inHerit):
ApprovedLast Update
28 Mar 2024Disclaimer
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.