Gimlet South Extended Gold Mine (Victorious), Ora Banda Goldfield, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Gimlet South Extended Gold Mine (Victorious)	Mine
Ora Banda Goldfield	Ore Field
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

Historic lease now with several others as part of the large Gimlet South open pit, 500 metres south of Ora Banda. The Gimlet South Extended and Victorious were used in equal proportions.

The dominant rocks are porphyritic and non porphyritic basalt of the Victorious and Bent Tree formations. Gold is found in quartz veins in shear zones in the basalt. Tellurides were first found at Ora Banda in the Victorious mine, but to the writer's knowledge were never studied. In 1912, a 600 tonne parcel was crushed containing much telluride, from a 15 foot long patch at the 300 foot level.

In 1910, sensationally rich ore was recovered from a 240 foot section of the mine, causing a pegging rush to the area.

The mine was owned by John Edward Abbott, Tom Tierney, Thornton, but was sold to the Associated Northern Block (W.A.) Ltd in 1912. The company had abandoned its Iron Duke mine on the Golden Mile Kalgoorlie, in favour of the Victorious. The battery was transferred to the new mine. George Roberts was overall manager, described as ' a somewhat restless mercurial being'. Bill Martin was mine manager, from the Ballarat goldfields Victoria.

Despite the excitement, the mine had low gold values at depth, and was patchy elsewhere. Dividends had been produced rather than investing in development. A subsidence incident (creep) had closed part of the workings to mining. A visit in 1914, revealed idle machinery and a desolate scene, despite 50 men officially on the payroll. From 1916 to 1921, Hincliffe and Black (surnames) were tributing at the mine.

In March 1912, Harry Turner was killed at the mine. He with J. McKeown
were descending the shaft in a bucket. A piece of equipment called the 'monkey' would descend with the shaft to prevent it swinging. This had become entangled at the top of the shaft, and with the bucket 40 feet down the shaft, the monkey broke away, knocking Turner out of the bucket. He fell 300 feet to the bottom of the shaft. The inquest found Turner at fault for carelessness.

The Associated Northern Ora Banda NL from Sydney (different company to the one above but similar name) purchased the lease in 1934, and mined it until 1943. For two years after it processed the tailings. The company went into liquidation in 1948, and forfeited the lease the same year for non payment of rent to the Mines Department.

The Mindat co-ordinates are approximate, and mark the Gimlet South large open pit, which swallowed the historic workings.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References