Maranoa Gold Mine (Kensington East; Hidden Treasure), Menzies, Menzies Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Maranoa Gold Mine (Kensington East; Hidden Treasure)	Mine
Menzies	- not defined -
Menzies Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Kensington East Gold Mining Company was floated in October 1896 to develop this lease about eight kilometres east of Menzies. There was also a nearby Kensington lease, and Kensington West, neither achieved any greatness.

Early 1899, the company had forfeited the lease, and the Herley brothers (W. and J. Herley) with Johnston (surname) took it up. They quickly identified that the company had mistaken the main reef for the Hanging Wall, and thereby were soon finding much gold. R.B. Nicolson was mine manager.

Soon after they purchase the Kensington lease, 200 metres to the west at auction for 75 pounds. This lease had also been developed by a company, but mismanagement, led to shareholders fleeing the project.

At some point just after 1900, the mine name was Hidden Treasure. This is only known from several sources who state 'Maranoa (old Hidden Treasure)', however no source was actually found referring to the Hidden Treasure as the main present name.

From around 1906, the mine was known as the Maranoa. The Herley brothers retained ownership, and were actively mining at the site for twelve years. They installed a ten head battery, four valve engine, six drill compressor, condenser, winding winch, two boilers, cyanide plant and poppet head 44 feet high.

A young miner named William 'Billy' Raleigh, was killed when an unexploded dynamite charge detonated in the underground workings in 1909.

Bewick Moreing and Co took out a sampling option over the mine in 1911. It is reported in 1913, the Herley brothers had been treating the sands for the prior twelve months. Prospects of further mining at the site looked gloomy, and indeed little happens on this front from then on.

Herbert Holloway was the prospector at the mine in 1934 and sent through at least three small crushings , with one crushing of 25.5 tonnes at 114 ounces 9dwt. In 1935 he had sold the mine to the Maranoa Gold Mines NL, which was floated for 60 000 pounds to develop the Maranoa, Picton and True Blue leases. The three mines as a total had produced 8075 tonnes of ore for 7769 ounces of gold. However, no active mining was found by the new company. They had proposed to un-water the workings and sink a new shaft at the Maranoa. It may have been a cash and grab.

The Lady Shenton Gold Mines (1934) NL took out an option over the mine across 1940 to 1942.

Drinking, fighting, and sport (often combined) were some of the few social past-times of miners during these early years. Employees of a mine would often form their own sporting team. It would be amiss not to mention the Mararoa team were Menzies premiers in cricket in the 1909 to 1910 summer season.

The mine can be found by travelling east of Menzies along the gravel road from the centre of town. Take the right fork and the road passes the True Blue mine, then about one kilometre further down the bendy road, the Maranoa borders the road on the west. It appears to be a cleared area, some collapsed shafts and mullock heaps. The whole area is reserved as Menzies underground water supply, and is off limits to the public.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

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