Siberia Reward Gold Mine (Waverley), Siberia Goldfield (Waverley), Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Siberia Reward Gold Mine (Waverley)	Mine
Siberia Goldfield (Waverley)	Ore Field
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

While Billy Frost discovered gold in 1893 at Siberia, he was only awarded an alluvial claim. The original reef claim went to John Christie (someone by the surname Downie is also mentioned), and must have been one of the few who made it to Siberia during the initial rush, either not dying of thirst on the way, or turning back to Coolgardie.

The site is a few hundred metres north of the Siberia cross road, bordering the east side of the Davyhurst-Ora Banda Road. The site is at the old entrance to Missouri-Sand King mine, and is marked by an information sign.

Various reports soon emerged about the mine- that it was being floated in London, that it had been sold to a company, Christie refused 6000 pounds to sell the mine, the bailiff had seized Christie's share etc. What does appear certain is Christie wanted to form a syndicate. The property in 1894 was under offer to Alfred Arnold, Lamb and Leiper. It is unclear if they had purchased the property beyond setting down a deposit, but they were soon removing specimen stone from the dump. This was carted off to Coolgardie and Perth, and a publicity statement was issued by them promoting the mine. Christie stated the stone had been removed without his permission, while he was absent in Perth, and issued a court injunction.

After much litigation, Christie emerges one year later as the undisputed owner of the lease again. Christie and his sons work the mine, with limited crushings. They sell the lease in 1898, to Alec Forrest for the bargain basement price of 1500 pounds. The mine had been on tribute for the prior nine months.

A picture of the mine from 1900 in the West Australian State Library, shows a shaft with no equipment whatsoever. F. Cullen, W. Kennedy and D. Desailly are noted as owners in 1900. The lease contains 4 distinct reefs, with two shafts, one to 100 feet and the other 120 feet. The south shaft was on an east-west reef which had produced 1700 ounces. One early crushing was sent to London it is claimed and achieved 1000 ounces. The group in 1900 had purchased the Tremayne mill at the government well for its crushings.

Cullen and party put through a crushing in 1912. O'Keefe and party in 1914. In 1917, the lease was jumped, and James Correll of the Siberia Consols was implicated, which he strenuously denied.

In 1935, a young man called F.H. Leach specked a 63 ounce nugget on the surface of the alluvial workings at the Old Siberia Reward mine.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References