Havelock Gold Mine, Boogardie Goldfield, Mount Magnet, Mount Magnet Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Havelock Gold Mine	Mine
Boogardie Goldfield	Ore Field
Mount Magnet	Mountain
Mount Magnet Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

Discovered and developed initially by Edward Morgan, who was one of the first prospectors on the Boogardie Field. The mine was near the Morning Star, and is thought to have been later gobbled up by the modern large Morning Star open pit. The Havelock was initially a very rich mine, however after the easily won gold from the main reef was extracted, it quickly faded, like so many other mines on the goldfield.

The were two shafts on the lease, and initially the neighbouring Lucknow lease was also under the same ownership. Late 1890's, the owners of Havelock (GML 239), also owned neighbouring Havelock Proprietary (GML 328), and Havelock Extended (GML 335). In 1898 the Havelock lease alone was 21 acres. There were two lodes heavily charged with pyrites. The main reef was 6 feet wide at the surface, and the east reef 22 feet wide, both trending north-south. A shaft was down to 100 feet on the main reef, and another to 60 feet on the east reef.

Morgan lodged a large collection of specimens with the Western Australian Bank in May 1897. This had more to do with showing potential mine buyers the goods, than any belief in saving Western Australia's natural heritage for future generations. Such thoughts did not occur to miners in the 1890's, when only dollar signs mattered.

Morgan, after releasing regular glowing reports about the mine, stated in May 1897 he would not sell the mine, convinced 'he had the most valuable property in Western Australia'. He was playing hard to get in the hope an offer price would be higher. It worked. Less than a month later, George Grey representing a Ballarat syndicate paid an astronomical amount for the time of 8 500 pounds. There had been a bidding war between the syndicate and a large Golden Mile Kalgoorlie mining company. Edward walked away with a large sum of money in the bank, and a mine largely devoid of gold, after he had spent five years plundering the reef.

Eighteen months later the leases were forfeited. A prospector jumped the leases, but had no more success, and the leases were forfeited again ( as GML 502) in 1903.

Crushing reports were found in 1924 as New Havelock, of 100 tonnes at 37.12 oz and 82 tonnes at 50.44 oz.

The lease came to life again in 1933, with semi regular small crushings to 1941. Havelock NL was formed to take an option over the mine. Shares started at 10 pounds in 1933 and within a year had rocketed to 40 pounds on the back of a gold boom. In 1938, the Havelock syndicate announced they had picked up a rich shoot at the 190 foot level. However it is also noted that after months of crushing, the fresh stone only amounted to 4 dwt/t. The gold mine always had a lot of pyrites which the batteries could not cope with, therefore the real riches lay with the tailings at 7 dwt/t. From 1933 to 1938 the mine produced 1077 tonnes at 286.59 oz.

Hill 50 Extended NL explored the lease in 1954, drilling holes to 340 feet.

The Mindat co-ordinates are approximate, the large Morning Star pit having obliterated any evidence of historic mines in the immediate area.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References