Great Gnarlbine Gold Mine, Gibraltar Goldfield, Coolgardie Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Great Gnarlbine Gold Mine	Mine
Gibraltar Goldfield	Ore Field
Coolgardie Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

This is a historic location. There was also a historic Gnarlbine mine, near the Great Gnarlbine Mine, and the area is now marked by a modern abandoned open pit also under the Gnarlbine name.

O.F.W. Palmer appears to have had a major influence over the mine in its early years. He is noted as opening the nearby Gnarlbine Mine, and was later publican at the Bullabulling Hotel. Around 1901, several cases were heard in the Coolgardie Warden's Court involving Palmer. Palmer himself states he was three quarters owner of the Great Gnarlbine Mine, with John Lusk one quarter owner. They had been mining at the location the previous years, but appear to have lost interest to a certain extent. Rent for the mine was not paid in 1901, and the lease was forfeited. Palmer claimed he tried to pay the rent later, but the mining authorities refused to accept it.

Prior to this Russell Duncan has been employed as a tributer on the mine, with a promise of one/tenth gold found. He was essentially baby-sitting the mine, while Palmer went on a trip to Victoria, and to ensure the mine was not forfeited due to not meeting labour conditions. Subsequently Duncan realised the deal was bad, and abandoned the location. He returned however once he realised the lease was forfeited and pegged it for himself. Meanwhile, on the same day Joseph Teague Penglase pegged the same lease. The outcome was a dispute between all three parties. The Warden awarded the lease to Russell. GML 3908. Lusk remained in the area until at least 1914, as a crushing is seen from him this year from P.A. 1033 at Gnarlbine.

Round two. May 1902, Palmer is back in court disputing GML 3604. This is also stated to be the Great Gnarlbine Mine. It appears Duncan had come to some arrangement with Palmer based on the following information. Also ownership on Palmer's side had changed. It was listed as Rachael E. Palmer, John Lusk, Gordon Gull, J.B. Hardwicke and Duncan Russell of the prior dispute. The dispute is over a forfeiture application made by John Thomas McNamara. Palmer is not listed as an owner, but attends court stating all parties apart from Duncan Russell wish to withdraw from the defence. McNamara stated the mine was not being worked and the equipment was rusting away, therefore not meeting labour conditions.


In 1905 the mine is owned by G.N. Clarke, who applies for a 3 month exemption. GML 4048.

In 1919 a Kalgoorlie syndicate took over the mine of 24 acres. They installed a boiler and pumping equipment, to test the values of ore below the water level, which was at 100 foot depth. The lode is described as hornblende schist with numerous quartz veins. The lode was 14 feet wide. The syndicate cleaned up the old workings which at that stage were filled with water. A sample of 40 tonnes of ore was tested.

The Mindat co-ordinates are approximate. The abandoned open pit just west is called the Gnarlbine Mine. Gnarlbine Rocks are several kilometres to the south.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References