Mining heritage permanently recognised as Year of the Outback ends

27/12/02
Significant reminders of the former Gwalla Mining District and the development of Northampton have been permanently listed in the State Register of Heritage Places.
Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards said registration would provide permanent statutory protection and recognition of the contribution made by the Gwalla Church and Cemetery and the Baddera Mines.
Dr Edwards said it was fitting that permanent registration of these two places took place as the Year of the Outback was coming to a close, as they have played important roles in the history of regional Western Australia.
The Gwalla Church and Cemetery comprises the church ruins in a stone walled yard, and the random rubble stone walled cemetery with its associated graves.
"Constructed in 1861 and partly demolished in 1929, Gwalla Church was the first church to be constructed in Northampton, and the cemetery was the first to be established in the district," the Minister said.
"In addition, the church is significant for its non-denomination, which was unusual in Western Australia's 19th century settlements."
Dr Edwards said the church and cemetery were the only remaining buildings associated with the Gwalla Mining District, which had played an important role in both the development of Northampton and Western Australia's early mining industry.
"Located high above the town of Northampton, the church and cemetery were closely associated with Joseph Horrocks, an ex-convict, convict ship's surgeon and important figure in the development of Gwalla and are conspicuous reminders of the once busy mining settlement of Gwalla," she said.
The Minister said Horrocks had attempted to establish his own village at Gwalla, and had donated the Gwalla Church and the land in an effort to provide for the spiritual needs of the town's community.
Today the site is an enduring reminder of his philanthropy.
Baddera Mines located off Baddera Road at Alma involved the Baddera Mine (c1906-1921) and North Baddera Mine (1948-1951) can be credited as being Australia's largest lead producer in the early decades of the 20th century and closely linked with early attempts to establish a works to smelt Kalgoorlie ores.
"The Baddera Mines site is located on private property 8.8km north of Northampton and is an industrial archaeology site today, containing the physical remnants of the mine sites," Dr Edwards said.
"They are important reference sites for the understanding of other sites on the Northampton Mineral Field."
The mines contain:

• rare evidence of the application of steam power to mining and processing;

• rare, and probably unique in Australia, evidence of the application of a Frenier pump; and

• rare - and possible the State's only surviving in situ - example of a once common Huntington Mill (North Baddera).

Dr Edwards said although the Baddera Mines had now been dormant for more than three decades, the mining industry remained very much a part of the living memory of the Northampton community.
"The sites are reported to have experienced little disturbance since they were vacated and in the context of historic mine sites generally, they are in good condition," she said.
"The tragic events at North Baddera in 1953, where two men lost their lives in the worst recorded mining accident in the mineral field, gave the site a particular place in the community's history and memory."
Minister's office: 9220 5050