The Patch alluvial gold area, Duketon Area, Duketon Goldfield, Laverton Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
The Patch alluvial gold area	Area
Duketon Area	Area
Duketon Goldfield	Ore Field
Laverton Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

See also Duketon Mining Centre Mindat locality. Probably the same localities although listed separately on maps.

Several alluvial gold patches were discovered in the Duketon area between 1900 and 1915. None were large or amounted to any greatness, with the exception of the 1912 discovery which became known simply as The Patch.

It can be found by travelling north to the Urarey Warren Bore Road and Moolart Well Gold Mine Access Road intersection, then taking the track for about 4 kilometres in a straight line south-west.

Considering there had been activity in the area from 1895, it is surprising it took this long to discover gold here. At the time it was not remote with the Duketon town site 4 kilometres north-east, the Mount Maiden alluvial area and state battery about the same distance north-west. Even then it was members of the local aboriginal tribe who first brought in nuggets from the place. Jack Dwyer travelled to Laverton to announce the news.

This set off a gold rush in June 1912, mainly of miners from Laverton.
Duncan McCallum, T. Fox, George Flowers, and William Field were the first to peg claims, and it appears some of the last to leave the area. Many left after only a month, having worked out their claims, which averaged 20 ounces per claim. By September 1912 about fifty men remained.

Many names are mentioned at this time. Len Brook and three mates worked three claims for a total of 80 ounces, and on a fourth claim found a 22 ounce nugget. Crowley and mate were making 10 to 12 dwt a day. The adjacent claim of S. Lawson was the same. Close by, McLean and Hogan had picked up a 19.5 ounce nugget, and weekly were on 2 ounces. Appleby and Nalder near Crowley averaged 2 to 3 ounces per week. Brannigan and Williams tried to find some deep wash at depth but were unsuccessful. J. King was said to have found 26 dwt in two days at a depth of 5 feet. Owen Kennedy in one day obtained 12 dwt. Cox and Mark Brennan had worked out their claim, and like many others were treating the tailings with variable results.

The first mention of the term 'The Patch' for the location was found in 1917. At this time Cox and party crushed a small parcel at the Mulga Queen battery. By 1918, twenty men remained on the field. This included some of the original prospectors, including Cox and McCallum. They were working small rich leaders down to 80 feet, from whence the alluvial gold had come. There was no major reef here, and it was only a matter of time before the gold ran out.

The last mention found was 1922, with Duncan McCallum still on the field, together with H. Oxley sending a parcel of ore to be treated at Kalgoorlie.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References