Mount Morgans, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount MorgansWestern Australia |
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 Mount Morgans
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1896 |
| Gazetted | 1899 |
| Postcode(s) | 6440 |
| Elevation | 432 m (1,417 ft) |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Laverton |
| State electorate(s) | Kalgoorlie |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Mount Morgans is a ghost town (an abandoned town) in Western Australia. It's about 900 kilometers (560 miles) northeast of Perth. It is also 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Laverton. Until 1899, it was known as Mount Morgan.
Discovering Mount Morgans
The first Europeans to explore this area were led by John Forrest in 1869. They were looking for another explorer, Ludwig Leichhardt. John Forrest named a nearby hill "Mount Morgan" after David Morgan. David was the expedition's cook and a person who looked after horses' shoes. He had arrived in Western Australia as a convict.
Finding Gold
Gold was first found in the Mount Morgan area in 1894. Two prospectors, Harry Swincer and Norman Sligo, were given a reward for their discovery. More gold was found near where the town would be built in 1896. This discovery was made by Harry Lilley and Samuel McInness. They officially registered their claim on June 15, 1896.
In 1897, a company called Westralia Mount Morgan Gold Mines, Limited bought the gold lease. Important people like Alexander Forrest and Sir James Lee Steere were part of this company. The mine at Mount Morgans produced gold during several periods:
- 1896–1952
- 1988–1997
- 2010–2011
- 2017–2020
Building the Town
The location for the town was chosen in March 1899. It was officially surveyed in July 1899. People discussed the name "Mount Morgan" because there were other places with similar names. For a short time, some suggested calling it "Morgansville." This was after Alf Morgans, who was an engineer and a director of the mining company.
However, the town was officially named Mount Morgans on December 29, 1899.
Life in Mount Morgans
A police station was set up in 1899 when about 500 people lived there. By 1903, the town was growing fast! The population reached 1,250 people. There were more than 500 buildings in the town.
Mount Morgans had:
- Six hotels
- A hospital
- A miners' union hall
- Two general stores
- Two chemists (pharmacies)
- A timber church called St Mathias Church of England
The police station closed in 1928, reopened in 1935, and then closed for good in 1937. By July 1937, a police commissioner visited and said the town was "dead." At its busiest, the town covered an area of about 1,112 acres (450 hectares).
