Golden Pole Gold Mine, Davyhurst, Davyhurst Goldfield, Menzies Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Golden Pole Gold Mine	Mine
Davyhurst	- not defined -
Davyhurst Goldfield	Ore Field
Menzies Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Golden Pole Gold Mine was a historic lease, which is located where the present northern Waihi open pit was developed.

The lease was pegged soon after the discovery of the Waihi, adjoining to the south, by Bennett and Mitchell (surnames). Two shafts were sunk to about 150 feet, 200 feet apart and connected at the 50 foot level.

A Kalgoorlie syndicate acquired the mine for 2500 pounds in 1900. They included Nat Harper, R. Gibson, and Everard Brown, all well known at the time in local mining circles.

John Alexander was initially appointed mine manager. Nat Harper took over a little later, and he was also a major shareholder. During his reign a rich shoot was mined. Shares in the mine rose sharply and speculators moved in. 75 000 pounds in dividends were distributed.

Once this shoot had been mined out, other reefs proved erratic, cutting out suddenly, with much dead work in hard country rock trying to locate the reef again. Profits and the share price collapsed. The directors were found to be trying to sell their own shares.

By 1902, the lease was 48 acres, with the main shaft at the centre of the property down to 310 feet, with levels at 132, 200 and 300 feet. By 1904 the mine had crushed 8274 tonnes of ore for 12 684 ounces of gold through their 10 head battery and cyanide vats. Soon after the battery was expanded to 15 heads.

It was discovered in 1906, gold was going missing from the battery. Local rumour of the time, was two battery hands were syphoning off gold, and hiding the goods under the floor boards of the Davyhurst Hotel billiard room. The gold was then sold to a local bank, with a local mine owner lending his name to the stolen goods, so it would not be questioned. All parties got a cut.

The mine had a poor safety record, with a number of serious injuries.
Patrick McAtamney drowned when the cage fell from the brace into water at the bottom of the shaft in 1904. Robert Gresson died in 1907 from a fall of earth. James Ryan was blown up by explosives in 1908. The Inspector of Mines closed down operations in 1909, as the result of ground movement (known as creep), was splitting the timbering like matchsticks, and the upper levels were in danger of complete collapse. Part of the problem was the tributers taking out profitable mullock which had been used to fill and shore up the drives. T. Williamson died in 1911, after he entered the workings full of dust after explosives had gone off. The dust caused difficulty in his breathing, and then he suffered a heart attack and died.

Russell and mate sent a trial parcel of 22 tonnes for 7 ounces of gold through in 1937. In 1938, cyanide vats were installed to treat the sands. T.and J. Walls controlled the mine in 1946, and a crushing of 800 tonnes was sent through the Waihi battery in this year. The Laterite Gold Mines NL was formed in Adelaide at this time, with 10 000 pounds capital, and developed a shallow pit accessing the near surface oxide ore. W. Chisholm was appointed mine manager.

The modern open pit was developed by Western Mining Corporation in 1986. It may have been re-filled with sludge from nearby operations.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References