Local Government
East Pilbara
Region
Pilbara
Old Skull Springs Rd Nullagine
40kms out on Old Skull Springs Road
East Pilbara
Pilbara
Constructed from 1898
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 27 Aug 1999 | ||
The mine reflects a strong connection to the district's long history in mining. It has scientific and historic heritage significance.
The Barton mine is situated 19 kms east of Nullagine, on the Skull Springs Road. The site has a large collection of mining relics, scattered around an impressive 10 stamp battery.
There are a number of stories about who set up the Barton Gold Mine. Some people say the Barton Goldmine was established by Maurice McKenna who held the pastoral lease on the land. The mine was named after Australia's first Prime Minister. Maurice McKenna was an infamous character in the Marble Bar District. He was the manager of Meentheena Station near Marble Bar and the father-in-law of the renowned Charles Kingsford-Smith. McKenna was known to be a tough man who worked himself and his stockmen hard to build up his station in difficult times during the 1920s. He eventually came unstuck for cattle rustling and was convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. Punishment included a whipping by the cat-o-nine-tails. McKenna went back to the pastoral industry after he served his sentence and lived in the district for many years. His ashes, together with those of his wife Gertrude, have been placed at the Barton Goldmine where there is a plaque to mark their resting place. The second story is that the Barton Goldmine was set up by A Bogan Barton in 1898. Barton later became well known in local politics in the district. In 1906 he became Chairman of the Marble Bar Roads Board and sat on the Railway League Committee, performing the duties of secretary. Barton was an active community member as he also played cricket, representing Marble Bar against Moolyella and Bamboo Creek. Despite the unknown element of who started the Barton Goldmine, there are records of the early years of production. In a report of the mining centre east of Nullagine, KJ Finucane named 'The Barton' as one of the principal mines. Its first recorded production was 81.77 ozs. of gold in 1898. Up until 1906 it had produced over 4,200 ozs. of gold. The Barton Goldmine had a small 2 or 3 stamp battery that became dwarfed by the setting up of the 10 stamp battery that still exists at the mine site. The mine has not been mined for several years.
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| H Edwards; "Gold Dust and Iron Mountains". | 1993 | ||
| Oral information from Harvey Hammersley | |||
| J Panizza; "The Discovery of Gold and the Development of the Nullagine District 1886 to 1906." | Grayland Teachers College Thesis | 1966 | |
| K Mallett; "To the Bar Bonded". | 1992 |
Individual Building or Group
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Present Use | VACANT\UNUSED | Vacant\Unused |
| Original Use | MINING | Other |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| OCCUPATIONS | Mining {incl. mineral processing} |
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.