Londonderry, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LondonderryWestern Australia |
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Established | 1895 |
Postcode(s) | 6429 |
Elevation | 398 m (1,306 ft) |
Area | [convert: needs a number] |
Location |
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LGA(s) | Shire of Coolgardie |
State electorate(s) | Electoral district of Kalgoorlie |
Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Londonderry is a ghost town in Western Australia. It is located about 14 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of Coolgardie. This area is part of the Goldfields-Esperance region. A ghost town is a place that used to be a busy settlement but is now mostly empty.
History of Londonderry Gold
Londonderry became known because of gold. In 1894, a group of prospectors found gold there. One of these prospectors named the new gold find after his hometown. That town was Londonderry in Ireland.
The Gold Rush and Town Life
The discovery of gold brought many people to the area. However, the gold supply did not last very long. It "petered out," meaning it ran out quickly. Even so, the townsite of Londonderry was officially created in 1895.
By 1898, Londonderry had a small population. There were about 220 people living there. Most of them were men, likely working in the gold mines. After the gold ran out, people started to leave. This is why Londonderry became a ghost town.