Abbotts, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids AbbottsWestern Australia |
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 Abbotts
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1900 |
| Postcode(s) | 6642 |
| Elevation | 526 m (1,726 ft) |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Meekatharra |
| State electorate(s) | North West |
| Federal Division(s) | Durack |
Abbotts is an abandoned town in Western Australia. This means it's a place where people used to live and work, but now almost no one does. It's located in the Murchison Goldfields region. Abbotts is about 31 kilometers (19 miles) north-west of Meekatharra. You can find it on the road that goes from Meekatharra to Mount Clere.
Contents
History of Abbotts
Abbotts started as a small settlement in 1898. It officially became a town in 1900 when it was "gazetted." This means the government formally recognized it as a town.
How Abbotts Got Its Name
The town was named after a man named Vincent Vranjican. He was a prospector from Croatia. A prospector is someone who searches for valuable minerals, like gold. Vincent changed his name to Vincent Abbott in 1893, and the town was named in his honor.
Early Mining Days
Mining was very important in Abbotts. One of the first mines to open there was called the Black Iguana. By 1895, both the Black Iguana mine and the Abbotts mine were busy. They each had ten-head stamp mills. A stamp mill is a machine that crushes rocks to get out the valuable ore (rock containing metal).
The Hotel Incident of 1902
In 1902, something unusual happened at Abbotts Hotel. Several people staying there got sick after eating tinned beetroot. They were given special medicine called "emetics" to help them feel better. Luckily, no one died from this incident.
Abbotts Today
Abbotts is now one of many "ghost towns" in the area. A ghost town is a town that has been mostly or completely abandoned. Other ghost towns nearby include Peak Hill, Gabanintha, Horseshoe, and Garden Gully. These towns show us what life was like during the gold rush days.
