Yerilla, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids YerillaWestern Australia |
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|---|---|
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| Established | 1896 |
| Postcode(s) | 6438 |
| Elevation | 383 m (1,257 ft) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Menzies |
| State electorate(s) | Kalgoorlie |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Yerilla is an abandoned town in Western Australia. It is located in the Goldfields-Esperance region. You can find it between the towns of Kalgoorlie and Laverton. Today, Yerilla is mostly a ghost town, meaning very few or no people live there.
Contents
Yerilla's Gold Rush Story
Yerilla became a town because of gold! In January 1895, gold was found in the area. This happened when the Mount Catherine reef was discovered. A reef is like a vein of rock that holds valuable minerals.
Finding Gold at Mount Catherine
The Mount Catherine reef was about 6 kilometers (about 3.7 miles) south of where Yerilla town would be. It had a lot of alluvial gold. Alluvial gold is gold that has been washed away from its original rock by water. It is often found in riverbeds or gravel.
The Queen of the Earth Discovery
Soon after, other prospectors found more gold. Prospectors are people who search for valuable minerals. MacGregor, McAuliffe, and their team discovered another gold spot. They called it the Queen of the Earth.
A Town Begins to Form
These gold discoveries started a "gold rush." Many people came to the area hoping to find their fortune. By 1896, the miners living there decided to work together. They formed a group called a "progress association." They asked the government to officially create a townsite. In November 1896, Yerilla was officially declared a town. This is called being "gazetted."
Life in Yerilla: A Busy Gold Town
Once Yerilla was a town, it started to grow. People needed services and places to stay.
Police and Post Office
A police station opened in July 1897 on McKinery Street. Constable L. McDonald was the first police officer there. A post office also opened, which was important for sending letters and news.
Hotels and Hospitality
By 1898, Yerilla had four hotels! Hotels were very important in gold rush towns. They offered places to sleep, eat, and socialize. The hotels were:
- The Commercial Hotel
- The Smith Hotel (later known as the Never Never Hotel)
- The Royal Hotel
- The Yerilla Hotel
Travel and Transport
Getting around in the Goldfields was tough. In 1898, a coach service started. A coach is like a large horse-drawn carriage. This service traveled weekly from Coolgardie. It went through Menzies and Yerilla, all the way to Pennyweight Point.
Gold Processing and Decline
After 1895, a "battery" was built near Yerilla. A battery is a machine that crushes rock to get the gold out. However, not many miners used this battery. By 1900, it was taken apart and moved to another town called Niagara. This was a sign that the gold rush in Yerilla was slowing down.
Yerilla Today
Today, Yerilla is an abandoned town. It is located within the area of Yerilla Station. A "station" in Australia is a very large farm or ranch.
