Gabanintha, Western Australia

Gabanintha is a ghost town located in the Mid West region of Western Australia approximately 40 km south east of Meekatharra on the Meekatharra-Sandstone road. The town is situated within the Murchison goldfields.

Gabanintha
Western Australia
Gabanintha
Coordinates26°55′S 118°39′E
Established1898
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Meekatharra
State electorate(s)North West
Federal Division(s)Durack

The name of the town is Aboriginal in origin but of unknown meaning. The name of the town can be found on maps dating as far back as 1894, with gold mining leases being taken out in the surrounding areas in 1895 to 1910.[1]

In 1895, an abandoned lease known as The Emerald Isle Star of the East was taken up by a syndicate and renamed Gabanintha. While driving on the old workings 3 ft of reef was exposed showing good gold.[2]

A shopkeeper from Nannine, William Small, built a hotel in the town and applied for a licence in 1896. The state government was petitioned in 1897 by the miners of the area to survey the townsite which had land reserved the following year resulting in the town being gazetted in 1898.[3]

The population of the town was 46 (44 males and 2 females) in 1898.[4]

Lots were surveyed in 1905 and mining continued around the town until 1944.

The townsite is one of many ghost towns in the area; others include: Peak Hill, Horseshoe and Garden Gully.[5]

References
  1. "Morowa Historical Society – Ghosttowns of Western Australia" (PDF). 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  2. "Mining news". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 18 March 1895. p. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  3. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names – G". Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  4. "Population of Western Australia". Western Mail. Perth: National Library of Australia. 22 April 1898. p. 23. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  5. "Travel – Meekatharra". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 November 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
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