Bonnie Vale, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bonnie ValeWestern Australia |
|
|---|---|
 Bonnie Vale
Location in Western Australia
|
|
| Established | 1897 |
| Postcode(s) | 6430 |
| Elevation | 375 m (1,230 ft) |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Shire of Coolgardie |
| State electorate(s) | Eyre |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Bonnie Vale is a historic town in Western Australia. It's now abandoned, but it used to be a busy goldfields town. You can find it about 14 kilometers (9 miles) north of Coolgardie. This area is part of the Shire of Coolgardie.
History of Bonnie Vale
Bonnie Vale officially became a town in 1897. It's believed to be named after a prospector named Bonnie. This prospector found a large gold nugget here in 1894. The nugget weighed about 7 ounces (200 grams)!
The Amazing Mine Rescue
Bonnie Vale is most famous for an amazing rescue that happened in 1907. An Italian gold miner named Modesto Varischetti got trapped deep inside a mine. A big thunderstorm had flooded the mine, leaving him stuck.
Modesto was trapped for nine days! Luckily, he found an air pocket and survived. Five days into his ordeal, a brave diver reached him. The diver used special deep-sea diving gear. He brought Modesto food, candles, and encouraging letters. This incredible story shows how tough miners were and how people helped each other.
Train Services
Even though Bonnie Vale is an abandoned town, a special train service still stops here. The Prospector train runs between East Perth and Kalgoorlie. It stops at Bonnie Vale once or twice every day.
| Preceding station |  Transwa |
Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koolyanobbing
towards East Perth
|
Prospector | Kalgoorlie
Terminus
|
||
