Local Government
Leonora
Region
Goldfields
Leonora
Leonora
Goldfields
Constructed from 1899
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHP - Does not warrant assessment | Current | 09 Jul 2024 |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 17 Feb 1998 | Category 2 | |
The place is an important reminder of the (continuing) importance of mining to the settlement, growth and development of the Leonora area.
The site contains a typical stamp battery of primary and secondary crushers, hoppers, sloping copper plates for the extraction of amalgam, conveyor belts, water storage tanks, and associated light industrial buildings clad in cgi.
The State Battery machinery was manufactured by Messrs Forward, Down and Co of Adelaide. It was shipped to Fremantle in October 1898 and forwarded to Leonora by rail and road. The erection of the Battery was undertaken by Mr J. Whitelaw and completed in January 1899. The opening, of the Battery was a major event in Leonora, A public holiday was granted and the Minister for Mines, Mr Lefroy opened the battery attended by local MLA Mr Gregory. The official opening was apparently a dry affair as the Minister was late arriving and the locals consumed all the celebratory liquor before he arrived. Although the opening of the battery was much anticipated doubts had been expressed even before completion of the battery about the ability of the well to provide enough water for successful operation. Indeed within weeks of opening the battery had to close for want of water. Fortunately a new well was rapidly constructed on the site by J. Phillips and Co which enabled the battery to restart. In addition, management problems surfaced during 1899 in regard to the running of the battery and an inquiry resulted. The water and management problems meant that the first year of operation of the battery was not a financial success. However, prospectors did feel that it was to be of undoubted benefit in the future. Public batteries became less and less viable and were a source of constant debate in the mining industry. Leonora was one of the few remaining batteries that came under the control of the WA Mint in 1984 but eventually all were closed in 1989.
INTEGRITY: High AUTHENTICITY: High
Access to site restricted
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| M & A Webb; "Golden Destiny,". p.884 | City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, | 1993 | |
| The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser | 11, February 1899 | ||
| The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertise | 25 March 1899 | ||
| The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertise | 9 September 1899 | ||
| The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertise | 4 November 1899 | ||
| V&P 1900 Vol. 1, 'Annual Report of the Department of Mines for 1899', p. 28. | 1899 | ||
| The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser | 4 March 1899 | ||
| The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser | 1 October 1898; | ||
| The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser | 14 January 1899 | ||
| The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser | 21 January 1899 | ||
| The Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser | 4 February 1899 |
Historic site
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | MINING | Mining Battery |
| Present Use | MINING | Mining Battery |
| 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.