Ora Banda, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ora BandaWestern Australia |
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The Ora Banda Hotel
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 Ora Banda
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1912 |
| Postcode(s) | 6431 |
| Elevation | 449 m (1,473 ft) |
| Area | [convert: needs a number] |
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| LGA(s) | City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder |
| State electorate(s) | Electoral district of Kalgoorlie |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Ora Banda is a small town in the Eastern Goldfields area of Western Australia. It is located about 66 kilometers (41 miles) north-west of Kalgoorlie. The name "Ora Banda" comes from Spanish and means "band of gold."
This town is known for its gold mining. Several mines are still working there today. In 2016, only eight people lived in Ora Banda.
Contents
The Story of Ora Banda
Gold Discovery and Town Growth
Gold was first found in the Ora Banda area in 1893. People quickly became interested in the region. By 1910, about 2,000 miners and their families lived there.
The town grew with many services. It had two stores, two butchers, and two bakers. There was also a town hall, a post office, and a police station. Churches and boarding houses were built too.
Important Buildings
In 1911, the Ora Banda Hotel was built. Alfred E Garnett constructed it using strong stone and brick. This hotel became a famous landmark in the town.
The State Battery
On June 17, 1913, something special happened. A 13-year-old girl named Eileen Walls led a parade. She officially opened the Ora Banda State Battery.
A "battery" is a machine that crushes rock to get gold out. This battery worked day and night. In 1936, more crushing machines were added to it.
Water Supply
At first, the town got its water from dams. But in 1933, Ora Banda was connected to a bigger water system. This was the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme from Kalgoorlie. It brought water all the way from Kalgoorlie to the town.
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The Ora Banda school burnt down
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Living conditions were rough
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Mine shafts were scattered across the area
Ora Banda Today
Modern Mining
Gold mining is still very important in Ora Banda. Today's mining companies work in the same places where gold was found long ago. The Ora Banda State Battery, which is on the edge of town, is still used to crush ore.
Annual Race Day
Every September, the town gets very busy for one day. This is for the Ora Banda Race Day. People come from all over for the horse races. The race track is right across from the old Ora Banda Inn.
Recent Events
In the early morning of May 18, 2019, the historic Ora Banda Hotel was destroyed by fire. This was a sad event for the town.
In August 2020, scientists made an exciting discovery near Ora Banda. They found an impact crater. This crater was made by a meteorite over 100 million years ago. It is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide.
