Red Hill Gold Mine (Gentle Polly), Kanowna Goldfield, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Red Hill Gold Mine (Gentle Polly)	Mine
Kanowna Goldfield	Ore Field
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

Today Red Hill is a modern, water filled abandoned open pit on the eastern edge of the goldfield, and directly north of the former town site.

Red Hill is near the site of the original nugget discovery here by Jerry McAuliffe in 1893. It developed as an alluvial ground, before reefs were found in the adjacent rise called Red Hill. Several leases were developed here, like the Melba, Bulong United, Kanowna, Kintore from the 1890's to very early 1900's. As such Red Hill also refers to an area historically of several leases. In the 1920's, the Red Hill Gold Mining Company took over many of the leases, but focussed its main attention on the Gentle Polly lease, one of the richest historically in this area. The Red Hill name became paramount in labelling mining in this area as a whole.

Gold was found in flat, undulating quartz leaders dipping slightly north-east. It was a succession of leaders, dipping below one another. The best veins were described as in the arching or dome like portions, where small veins come in from the roof. Small amounts of pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena are found in the quartz veins, the galena often associated with the gold. The country rock was hard quartzite, limiting hand mining to no more than 100 feet depth, and reducing profitability of early efforts.

As the Gentle Polly lease, it is first found in 1902, owned by McBride and Ritchie (surnames). By 1904, the lease is in the hands of a syndicate of Kanowna working miners. They were active from 1904 to 1907 producing 9032 ounces of gold worth over 32 000 pounds. 'Watty' Bailey was one of the principal holders until he sold his quarter interest to F (D?). Morgan in 1904. Lancaster (surname) is registered against crushings. David Morgan is mine manager. GML 1062X.

Intermittent crushings emanate from the lease over the next ten years. The Victoria G.M. Co. take over the lease at the beginning of 1918 but do little with it, despite promises of introducing machine drills, and appointing J. Pascoe as mine manager.

In 1920, D.L. Doolette obtained a working option over several leases at Red Hill from the Red Hill Syndicate for 5500 pounds. The syndicate itself had produced a large tonnage from development work. The Red Hill Gold Mining Company NL is formed in Melbourne, but registered on the Adelaide stock exchange. Initially the property was let to tributers until 1923, when the company took over mining operations. John James is mine manager. Capital was 100 000 pounds.

The mine limped along producing crushings of moderate values initially, and gradually decreasing. April 1928 the company was voluntarily wound up. Low gold grades and increased costs were blamed. It had produced gold worth 45 568 pounds, produced dividends of 6883 pounds, paid wages of 20 106 pounds. After debts were paid, 40 pounds was left, which was donated to two hospitals.

As the Gentle Polly lease, the mine in 1933 is noted as producing 6884 tonnes of ore for 12 453 ounces of gold over its history to that point.
W.R. Asher put through several small crushings in 1948.

More information is needed on modern mining here, the former open pit now largely filled in with rock from the nearby Kanowna Belle Mine.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References