Niagara, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids NiagaraWestern Australia |
|
|---|---|
 Niagara
Location in Western Australia
|
|
| Established | 1896 |
| Postcode(s) | 6431 |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Shire of Menzies |
| State electorate(s) | Kalgoorlie |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Niagara is a fascinating 'ghost town' located in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. It sits between the towns of Kalgoorlie and Leonora. You can find it about 12 kilometers southwest of Kookynie.
Contents
Discovering Niagara: A Gold Rush Town
Niagara is a ghost town, meaning it was once a busy place but is now mostly abandoned. It became important during the exciting gold rush days in Western Australia. Many people moved there hoping to find their fortune.
The First Discoveries
In January 1895, two prospectors named Charles Northmore and J. Timms were exploring the area. They were near a spot called Waterfall or Niagara Falls. On February 4, they made a big discovery: the Port Pirie mine. This mine was about 3 kilometers north of where Niagara is today. Sadly, J. Timms passed away on February 14 from typhoid.
A Town is Born
After the mine discovery, more and more people arrived. The population grew very quickly! Because of this, the local community asked for a proper town to be created. The government department in charge of land agreed. They officially declared Niagara a townsite later in 1896. To help the new town connect with others, a telegraph line was built. The Kalgoorlie-Niagara telegraph line was finished on August 6, 1896.
Life in Early Niagara
Niagara quickly became a busy place. Many mines started up in the area. Some of the early mines included Challenge, Orion, Emperor, Mikado, Golden Monarch, Lady Betty, and Sapphire. The town plan had seven streets, but only two, Challenge and Waterfall, were fully developed.
By 1900, Niagara was thriving. There were over sixty buildings in the town. It also had 150 'stamp heads' working in the mines. Stamp heads were machines that crushed rock to get the gold out. The town had important services like a telegraph and post office. There was also a mines registrar's office, a bank, a police station, and a court house. Many stores were doing well. Niagara was quite unique because it had four hotels, one on each corner of the main crossroads in the town center!
The Decline of Niagara
After 1900, another town nearby, Kookynie, started to become more important. It took over as the main center for the district. By 1903, Niagara was already shrinking. Its population had dropped to just 75 people.
By 1905, many of the buildings, which were often made of mud brick, were falling apart. They were becoming derelict. By 1909, the town was almost completely abandoned. Niagara became the ghost town we know today.
