Barrambie Range Gold Mine, Barrambie Range Goldfield, Sandstone Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Barrambie Range Gold Mine	Mine
Barrambie Range Goldfield	Ore Field
Sandstone Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Golden Hill lease (16 acres),Golden Treasure, Treasure Trove and Lily of the Valley leases were purchased in 1906 from the prospectors by the Barrambie Range Gold Mining Company, floated in Victoria for the purposes of opening up the deposit. Its shareholders were in for a short and sharp rollercoaster ride. A 10 head battery, winding gear, cyanide plant, boiler and pump was constructed at the mine. There was a constant battle to find water for the mine. The company sank three shafts on the Golden Treasure lease and another at the boundary with the Golden Hill lease.

Gold was found in quartz, chlorite, schist and decomposed diorite. The hanging wall contained pyrites but was barren of gold. The footwall carried gold as veins and small stringers in quartz. Gold was also found in the oxidised zone as spidery gold in cavities. Government geologist, H.P Woodward, made a glowing reference to the mine in 1906, stating very rich specimens had come from the mine, and an inspection of the dumps showed gold specimens thickly covering it.

All was not happy at the mine.The company had dug trial shafts at the location prior to purchase, and had produced glowing reports for potential shareholders. It therefore came as a shock when gold from the mine came through at far lower levels than expected. Share values slumped. Angry shareholders stormed annual general meetings in Melbourne.

The mine manager, J.M. Aldridge, claimed gold was being stolen from the mine, a claim backed by the company in far off Melbourne. The miners threatened legal action stating they had been defamed. Constable Fanning had worked at the mine as a trucker, then joined the police force. He returned to Barrambie employed as an under-cover miner. After two months he caught employee William Chalker stealing gold from the south stope. On attempting to arrest him, a struggle ensued, and a gun was pulled. More gold from the mine was found at his camp, and he was sentenced to six months jail.

All the miners were sacked and employees who had been truckers employed. However they were not paid at miner's rates of pay and they went on strike and were sacked as well. The company was wound-up in 1911 and the mine closed.

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