Local Government
East Pilbara
Region
Pilbara
Cnr General St & Davis Av Marble Bar
East Pilbara
Pilbara
Constructed from 1892, Constructed from 1891
Type | Status | Date | Documents | More information |
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Type | Status | Date | Documents |
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Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | More information | |
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Category | Description | ||||
Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 27 Aug 1999 |
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The Old Marble Bar Town Well has historic and social heritage significance. The presence of the well determined the location of the Marble Townsite which grew up in close proximity to the well. Water has always been a precious commodity in the harsh Pilbara climate, and the well was an essential resource, remaining Marble Bar's sole water supply for many years.
The Marble Bar Town Well is protected from the weather by corrugated iron walls. It has a concrete surround with a timber and corrugated iron lid.
One of the most urgent needs following the gold find of May 1891 at Marble Bar was to find a source of water near to the workings. It is reported that Francis and Co. had sunk a private well about half a mile from their Reward claim and by May 1892 forty men were settled near the well and used it at a nominal charge.
Shortly after this the Government purchased the prospectors' well and over the years took the responsibility of cleaning, deepening, timbering the well, erecting a windmill (1904), two 5,000 gallon tanks (1904), an oil engine (1911) etc. This well served Marble Bar adequately for many years.
Historically the township of Marble Bar is situated where it is because of the Original Well. The diggers and fossickers erected their humpies in close proximity to the well and eventually two grog shanties, a blacksmith and 3 stores sprang up to form a settlement near to the source of water. The town was eventually surveyed around this well. Water was always a precious commodity in Marble Bar's history and this well has played an important part. The well was used until cl940-50s. Today Marble Bar is supplied from a bore put down in the banks of the river.
Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
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"Pilbara Goldfield News," | 22/10/1897 | ||
K Mallett; "To the Bar Bonded". pp.230-235 | 1992 | ||
"North West Times," | 21/5/1892, | ||
"North West Times," | 26/11/1892 |
Other Built Type
Epoch | General | Specific |
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Present Use | VACANT\UNUSED | Vacant\Unused |
Original Use | OTHER | Other |
Type | General | Specific |
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Wall | OTHER | Other Material |
General | Specific |
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SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Community services & utilities |
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.