Mulwarrie Gold Mine, Mulwarrie, Davyhurst Goldfield, Menzies Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

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

John De Baun arrived in Melbourne from America in the 1880's, and soon found himself in the Broken Hill area. He built the first hotel at Silverton, then the Grand Hotel at Broken Hill in 1888. He invested money in shares and property, gaining a fortune, before losing most of it during an economic downturn in the 1890's.

Starting afresh,he moved to Coolgardie, shortly after the goldrush, and opened four businesses. He built the now demolished Great Western Hotel at Coolgardie, and invested again in the stock market, regaining much of his wealth. He built the Melbourne Hotel in Perth, and in 1894 the Palace Hotel, an impressive colonial era building on St Georges Terrace Perth.

The Mulwarrie deposit was discovered by Gibson and mate, prospectors employed on behalf of De Baun in around 1895. 24 acres. The reef struck north-south and dipped 45 degrees east. The lode was 3 to 6 feet wide with the main shaft down to 90 feet. Stoping had occurred 100 feet mainly to the north in oxide and highly mineralised sulphide ore, averaging 6 oz to the tonne. One source states all the gold was found in a pipe, with the reef virtually barren outside this, and may explain the lack of interest after De Baun ceased mining here in 1906.

Mining was on a quartz vein of varying thickness in a schistose formation 5 to 6 feet wide, filling the space between the walls. The schistose contained low grade gold. Quartz was found on the Hanging Wall, and sometimes on the Footwall. The Hanging Wall was well defined, the Footwall not as defined, and rises in the wall pinched the lode at places. The country is soft fine grained greenstone, more compact at depth around 90 feet. Numerous small granite and quartzite dykes cross the lode, but do not throw it. Gold values are poor close to the dykes.

Not a lot happened initially until the state battery was erected. The mine was let on tribute to Richard Uren for twelve months. In 1897, an employee called Simpson was tasked with baby sitting the lease to prevent forfeiture for not complying with labour conditions. Simpson instead applied for the forfeiture of the lease for himself. The warden dismissed the case, and De Baun probably did the same to Simpson soon after.

For much of the period, Thomas H. Hewitt was mine manager. In March 1903, he left to go prospecting for himself. Unsuccessful, he returned to Kalgoorlie, and De Baun offered him his old job back. He was travelling to the mine from Kalgoorlie when he caught bronchitis, suffered an asthma attack and died June 1904.

De Baun brought in diamond drills which tested the ore below 300 feet. The results were never made public, but shortly after the lease was put up for sale, indicating the results at depth were not encouraging. There were no takers and he still owned the lease at his death.

Big burly John De Baun, died in Perth on the 24 December 1911, following an infected leg, complicated by his diabetes. The lease, buildings and machinery at Mulwarrie was put up for sale, having now been idle for six years. One year later it was still on the market.

The mine produced 1963 tonnes of ore for 5370 ounces of gold.

Subsequent to this being written (and the photograph attached) the pit appears to have been filled in.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References