State Batteries in Western Australia were government owned and run ore-crushing facilities for the gold mining industry. Western Australia was the only Australian state to provide batteries to assist gold prospectors and small mines. They existed in almost all of the mineral fields of Western Australia.
State Batteries were gold batteries where ore was crushed to separate gold ore. Stamp mills were gauged by the number of heads they had in operation for the crushing of ore.
Many of the government operated batteries had very short operating times, some for a year or two, while a few were 50 years or more in operation. They were part of the Western Australian Department of Mines operations.
Origins The first private battery in Kalgoorlie was constructed at the Croesus mine in 1894. As early as 1897 there was consideration of ore-crushing facilities being funded by private or government means.Editorial considers the provision of publicly funded versus privately funded batteries. Golden age, 13 Dec. 1897, p. 4,Bogle, William. Government crushing batteries. Letter supporting government funding of batteries. West Australian, 10 June 1897, p. 6 The first government battery was constructed at Norseman in 1898. But by 1906 there was a Batteries Inquiry Board.Western Australia. State Batteries Inquiry Board. Report and recommendations of the State Batteries Inquiry Board. Perth [W.A.] : The Board, 1906. in Battye Library
Decline In the 1930s, despite the depression, a significant number still operated. Includes information on State Batteries, prospecting activity and has advertisements in margins. Published as centrefold (p. 24-25) in the Western Mail 11 May 1933. There were close to 100 operating Batteries in Western Australia – either private or Government in 1949, and by 1958 there were less than 50.page 263 of Official Yearbook ) Currently there are no operating state batteries, but ore processing continues in some of the same locations, such as Tuckabianna.
By 1982 a Government review of State Battery operations eventuated in a functional review, and the eventual closure of State Batteries in 1987.State government to close nine of the 13 state batteries. West Australian, 4 September 1987, p. 29
List The following State Batteries are known to have existed in Western Australia.
Bamboo 1913–1962 Black Range-. see also Sandstone Bulong 1898–1899 Carlaminda Coolgardie 1904 Cue 1919–1968 Darlot 1901-1980s Desdemona 1909–1912 Devon 1908–? Donnybrook 1900–1904 Duketon 1905–1907 Dumpling Gully Kalgoorlie 1932 Kalpini 1906–1911 Laverton 1902 Known to be operating between 1916 and 1941. Leonora 1898Known to be operating between 1907 and 1936 Linden 1908 Marble Bar 1910–? Marvel Loch – Known to be operating between 1912 and 1950A new battery established in 1949/1950 Meekatharra 1901–
Messenger's Patch 1909–? Menzies 1904 – ? Mt Egerton State Battery 1912–1921 Mt Ida 1898–1953 Mt Jackson 1912–1921 Mt Keith 1913–1928 Mt Sir Samuel 1910–1921 Mulline 1898–1921 Mulwarrie 1901–19201905 complaint by prospector re condition and operating standards Nannine 1907–1912 Niagara 1900–1922 Norseman 1898–? modernised in 1950 Ora Banda 1913–? Paddington 1903–? Paynes Find 1912–? Paynesville 1900–1902 Pig well 1904–1912 Pinjin 1905–1914 Quinns 1911–1920 Randalls 1905–1908 Ravelstone -Peak Hill 1917–1965 Ravensthorpe ? –from evidence – there never was a state battery, it was at commercial mines that batteries existed – such as Sandstone 1911 South Greenbushes 1906 Southern Cross 1903–19051903 opening – Tuckabianna 1918–? Tuckanurra 1898–1923 Warriedar 1940 ? Widgiemooltha 1900–1911 Wiluna 1904–1950 Yalgoo 1898–1941 Yarri 1905–? Yerilla 1898–1920 Youanmi 1909–1940 Yundamindera 1903–1907
See also Hints to Prospectors and Owners of Treatment Plants
References