Old Donnybrook Goldfield

Statement of Significance

Historic Value Old Goldfields Orchard is a visual reminder of the important, but short lived, Donnybrook goldfield. The discovery of gold provided impetus for the continued development of Donnybrook. Old Goldfields Orchard is associated with F.W.P. Cammilleri, a well known prospector during the goldrushes of the late 19t1i century in Western AustraUa. Scientific Value The Geology of the region is different to the Eastern Goldfields and produces a gold of a unique type ie. Dendridic or Arboreal gold (shaped like a leaf or fem). Social Value The social implications of the goldfields on Donnybrook were significant and long lasting. Many of the miners stayed on and became farmers, some of their descendants still farming in the district today. The goldrush marked a population surge which assured Donnybrook of a sound economic future. Rarity Donnybrook was the only town in the South-West to experience a gold rush. It was also the only South-West town to be built on money from gold. The workings on Lot 2391 (including Hunters Venture) are the only workings/tailings available for the public/tourist to inspect. It is thought that the reconstructed Hunters Venture Poppet Head is the only one in the South-West, and probably one of the few examples of a completely wooden poppet head in Western AustraUa (certainly outside of the Eastern Goldfields/Kalgoorlie, all headframes nowadays are metal).

Physical Description

The Old Donnybrook goldfields are located on what is now 'Old Goldfields Orchard', owned by Hunters Venture Pty Ltd a private company owned by R.J. Trigwell, SJ. Trigwell, F.B. Trigwell and G.M. Trigwell. The orchard is 5.7kms south of the town of Donnybrook, located on 'Goldfields Road', a short road running off the 'Upper Capel Road'. The title is Wellington Loe. 2391 and falls within the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup. A short road (O.lkm) turns left from Goldfields Road leading to the Poppet Head. On shire maps this road has no name and is known as Nameless Road. The Hunters Venture Poppet Head is about 100 metres up a slight gradient from a farm dam, which was constructed on the upper reaches of the Noneycup Creek (which eventually flows through the town of Donnybrook). On the opposite side of the creek there is a well wooded, fairly steep hill containing the Mount Cara Adit (Mine shaft) and other workings/claims. The reconstruction of the Hunters Venture Poppet Head was undertaken by a contractor Mr Dave Pender from "Viels'', Mudgie Road, Hill End. N.S.W. 2850. Mr Pender is a prospector/miner with an emerald mine in the Pilbara. After viewing photos taken in 1900 (sourced from Battye Library) and studying photos and text in Green Gold (the history of Donnybrook by A.C. Frost - 1976), Mr. Pender was commissioned to reconstruct an exact replica of the poppet head as it stood in 1900. During reconstruction the local contractor located each footing from the original construction. The best remnant footing was retained for display in the information centre. The reconstructed poppet head stands 14m high, made from jarrah with four karri logs as legs. A gantry (also jarrah) extends from the poppet legs to the mullock heap, this was part of the original structure as well. The current owners have built a rammed earth jarrah tearooms adjacent to the poppet head, with a jarrah/iron barn-information centre beside the mullock heap. Approximately 30m from the poppet head is the owners main orchard shed (zincalume) containing two cool rooms and a cider factory. Below the poppet head is a 450 foot deep triple compartment shaft, (Jarrah) with drives at 100', 200' and 300'. The geology of the area has been well documented from 1899 - 1903 and recently from 1980 by West Coast Holdings Ltd, a Perth company no longer in operation.

History

Assessment 1998 Construction c.1899, Poppet head reconstructed Feb to May 1996 Original attempts to find gold in Donnybrook were made in 1874 and 1880 by G.W. Simpson but these attempts were unsuccessful. The first recorded accounts of the discovery of gold were in 1897 and it is reported that these were by a party of prospecting for alluvial gold. In the published report the names of the prospectors are not mentioned. In 1898 Mr R.L. Hunter was credited with the official discovery when his persistence was rewardedand he was able to report finding gold before the year was out. On 17 November 1899 the district of Donnybrook was declared a goldfield. This news brought many hopeful prospectors to the region and camps were set up. The total amount of gold removed from the Donnybrook goldfield was 841 ounces. The field was in production from 1898 until 1903. The mini gold rush which occurred in Donnybrook from 1897 changed the town forever. Both town hotels were applied for and constructed during this period. The town's population increased substantially and social conditions are well documented in Green Gold ie. difficulty in procuring foodstuffs, land prices/mining tenements soaring in price from £10 to £70 - 80 and two claims to £1,500 and £3,000, the town becoming a 'bustling community'. The Goldfield was compared to "The Best Goldfields of Victoria and California" by Modest Maryanski, a Polish geologist/consultant to Donnybrook Goldfields Ltd. (a public company floated in London in 1899 raising £350,000). 105 men were employed at Hunters Venture mine in 1902, this being the largest of the Donnybrook Goldfields Ltd. Mines. Mr F.W. Cammilleri consolidated the leases of various prospectors and sold them to Donnybrook Goldfields Ltd. Mr Camilleri was a well known and respected prospector from the Eastern Goldfields (Kalgoorlie). Such was the optimism of Torrington Blatchford (Assistant Govt. Geologist 1898) that in gazetting the Donnybrook Goldfields on 17 November 1899 a temporary reserve for a townsite was also allocated. This townsite reserve abuts location 2391 and is approximately 100 metres from the reconstructed poppet head of Hunters Venture. Anecdotal evidence from Glen Mitchell (deceased) son of Valentine Mitchell (Member/Chairman Preston Valley Road Board [Predecessor to Donnybrook/Balingup Shire Council] 1901-03), suggests there were 200 miners camped at the townsite in the census of 1901 .

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