Rothsay, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids RothsayWestern Australia |
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 Rothsay
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1898 |
| Postcode(s) | 6620 |
| Elevation | 353 m (1,158 ft) |
| Area | [convert: needs a number] |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Perenjori |
| State electorate(s) | Moore |
| Federal Division(s) | Durack |
Rothsay is a fascinating ghost town located in the Mid West area of Western Australia. It sits between the towns of Dalwallinu and Mount Magnet. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly empty.
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Rothsay: A Gold Rush Story
Rothsay's story began with the exciting discovery of gold. This happened in 1894, thanks to a prospector named George Woodley. A prospector is someone who explores an area looking for valuable minerals, like gold.
How Rothsay Began
When George Woodley found gold, the area was first called Woodley's Find. Within just one year, all the land claims were taken by other miners. In 1895, Woodley sold his claim to a mining company from Scotland.
People wanted a proper town, so a local group asked the government to create one in 1897. The town was officially declared in 1898. This means it was "gazetted," or formally announced in a government newspaper. By the end of 1898, Rothsay had 140 people living there. This included 110 men and 30 women.
Life in Rothsay's Heyday
At its busiest time, Rothsay was a lively place with over 500 people. It was a bustling gold mining town. However, like many mining towns, its population later started to shrink.
Rothsay's Second Chance
The town got a new chance when a businessman named Claude de Bernales reopened the mine. This happened in 1932. He hoped to bring the town back to life.
Rothsay Today
Today, Rothsay is an abandoned ghost town once again. Not much is left to see. You can still find the remains of a strong room, which was likely used to keep valuable gold safe. There are also parts of the mine manager's house and an old, broken mine shaft. A mine shaft is a deep tunnel that goes down into the earth to reach the gold.
Where Did the Name Come From?
The town of Rothsay is believed to be named after a Scottish town. This town is called Rothesay and is on the Isle of Bute in Scotland. The island is located off the coast of the Firth of Clyde.
The slightly different spelling of Rothsay (without the 'e') was probably a mistake. It might have been made by the local group who asked for the town, or by the government department that officially named it.
