Burtville, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BurtvilleWestern Australia |
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 Burtville
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1902 |
| Postcode(s) | 6440 |
| Elevation | 447 m (1,467 ft) |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Laverton |
| State electorate(s) | Kalgoorlie |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Burtville is an abandoned town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. It is located about 29 kilometers (18 miles) southeast of Laverton. Once, it was a busy place because of gold mining.
Contents
The Story of Burtville
Gold Discovery and Naming
In 1897, two gold seekers named B. Frost and James E. Tregurtha found gold here. This discovery led to the start of a new settlement. A surveyor named J. Rowe planned the town in 1901. Surveyors measure land and draw maps.
The settlement was first called Merolia. This name came from the Indigenous Australian people who lived in the area.
How Burtville Got Its Name
The town was later named after Archibald Edmund Burt. He was the grandson of Sir Archibald Burt, who was the first chief judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Archibald Edmund Burt was an important mining official in the Mount Margaret Goldfield.
The town was officially named Merolia in 1902. However, it was renamed Burtville later that same year to honor Archibald Edmund Burt.
A Busy Gold Mining Town
By 1903, Burtville was thriving. About 400 people lived in the town and the surrounding area. This growth was all thanks to the gold mining industry.
The town had a good water supply from a government well. It also had a proper waste removal system. In 1903, a police station opened to keep order. A school was built for the children, and two hotels offered places for people to stay and relax.
Gold Processing in Burtville
Gold ore had to be processed to get the gold out. From 1903 to 1906, two special machines called stamp batteries operated in Burtville. A stamp battery crushes rocks to find the gold inside. One was a ten-stamp battery, and the other was a five-stamp battery. These were known as The Burtville Ore Reduction Works.
Another ten-stamp battery, called The Sons of Westralia, was also working. This one was privately owned but allowed the public to use it.
The Decline of Burtville
Over time, the amount of gold found in the area decreased. By 1916, the population of Burtville had dropped significantly. Only 45 people remained in the town. Because there were so few people, the police station closed down.
Today, very little is left of the once-busy town. The only remaining part is the entrance arch of one of the old hotels.
Images for kids
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The remains of Burtville in 2008.
