Golden Ring Gold Mine, Mount Weld Station, Laverton Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Golden Ring Gold Mine	Mine
Mount Weld Station	Mountain
Laverton Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Golden Ring mine started life as an alluvial patch, discovered by Schmitzer and party around 1898. It led to an inevitable gold rush, and the patch was worked out within a short space. While a fair amount of gold was obtained, the patch was small.

In 1899, the site was pegged by Richard Fosser, Baker, and Flavin. 24 acres. One source states these prospectors were the discoverers of the famous Bayley's Reward mine which led to the Coolgardie rush, before Bayley arrived and took credit for it.

Four shafts were sunk to 90 feet. The hard country and copious water inflow into the workings limited development. The reef was 3 feet wide, and driving was conducted north and south of the shafts for 120 feet. Initially crushings were sent to the Hawks Head battery, then a one head battery was erected at the mine which could crush 4 tonnes daily over a 24 hour period. A.G. Ashworth was mine manager.

The first few crushings were very rich. The first at 68 tonnes of ore for 617 ounces went through the battery at the end of 1899. The second was 51 tonnes at 202 ounces or 19 dwt, third 60 tonnes for 153 ounces and fourth 67.5 tonnes for 225 ounces or 18 dwt. Some un-specified disagreement then broke out amongst the prospectors, resulting in litigation, and suspension of mining for ten months.

This was patched up, and mining resumed. However the next crushing was 54 tonnes for only 12 dwt. It is thought they abandoned the lease soon after. 2000 tonnes of ore had been mined amounting to 5000 pounds money-wise in early Twentieth Century figures.

Early 1907, the lease was taken up by a syndicate. This consisted of A.S. Mandlestam (or in some sources the Mandlestam family, including Harman Mandlestam said to be the financial genius of the family). Also Rodway (who financed most of the Mandlestam's mining activities), and Oswald (Chairman of the Barrambie Gold Mines Company). GML 1769. Nothing however was found after 1909 for activity at the site.

The mine is approximately 25 kilometres south of Burtville. To reach take the southern extension of the Merolia Road from Burtville. Where the road turns from going south to south-west is a fork. Take the left fork and a few hundred metres down this, the mine borders the track on the west. The site may have been partially bulldozed, and is an area of disturbed ground.

Adjoining the lease on the west was the Golden Orbit (Kitty's Well) lease, operational by Kerridge and Pilling around 1900. It is indistinguishable these days from the total disturbed ground of the area. The track mentioned above passing the mine continues to the Sailor Prince Gold Mine.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References