Burbanks, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BurbanksWestern Australia |
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 Burbanks
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1897 |
| Postcode(s) | 6429 |
| Elevation | 408 m (1,339 ft) |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Coolgardie |
| State electorate(s) | Eyre |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Burbanks is an interesting abandoned town in Western Australia. It is located between the towns of Coolgardie and Londonderry. This area is part of the Goldfields-Esperance region, known for its rich history of gold mining.
Discovering Gold at Burbanks
The story of Burbanks began in 1893. A prospector named John Burbanks and his partner, Sheldon, found gold in the area. This exciting discovery was named the Birthday Gift.
Soon after, a company was quickly formed. This company bought a large machine called a sixty-head battery. A battery like this was used to crush rocks and extract the gold.
How Burbanks Became a Town
Because of the gold discovery, more people moved to the area. In 1894, the gold find was officially recorded. The townsite of Burbanks was then officially created, or gazetted, in 1897.
By 1898, the town had a population of 390 people. Most of these were men (350), with 40 women also living there.
Burbanks Today
Even though Burbanks is now an abandoned town, the Burbanks Gold Mine still operates nearby. This shows that there is still gold to be found in the area, even after all these years.
