Niagara, Western Australia

Niagara Western Australia
Niagara
Established:	1896
Postcode:	6431
Location:	788 km (490 mi) ENE of Perth 153 km (95 mi) North of Kalgoorlie
LGA:	Shire of Menzies
State District:	Kalgoorlie
Federal Division:	O'Connor

Coordinates: 29°22′01″S 121°25′59″E / 29.367°S 121.433°E / -29.367; 121.433

Niagara is an abandoned town located in the Goldfields-Esperance region in Western Australia. It is found between Kalgoorlie and Leonora.

In 1895 two prospectors named Northmore and Doolittle discovered gold in the area, some sources claim that John Alway was the first o peg the area earlier the same year. Following a rapid growth in population the local progress association requested that a townsite be declared early the following year. The Land Department gazetted the townsite later in 1896.^[1]

Another lease named Trilby was producing rich ore in 1896^[2] and a 20 ounces (567 g) nugget was found at Carmichael's lease north of the town in the same year.^[3]

Although seven streets were planned only two, Challenge and Waterfall, were ever developed. By 1900 over sixty buildings existed within the town and one hundred and fifty stamp head listed on the area.

After 1900 Kookynie took over as the district centre and by 1903 Niagara was in decline.^[4]

Aboout fifty prospecting sites were still operating close to the town in 1903 with a ten head Stamp mill being built at the Black Hawk mine. Other mines in the area included Challenge, Orion, Champion, Batavia and Britannia. The town was soon in decline with a population of 75. By 1905 many of the mud brick buildings were derelict and by 1909 the town was abandoned.

The last run of the Niagara State Battery occurred in 1913 when 809 tons of ore was processed for the return of 830 ounces (24 kg).^[5]

A waterfall in the area was jokingly named after the falls in the United States. The local falls are approximately 3 metres (10 ft) in height and only flow after heavy rain. A railways concrete wall dam was also constructed nearby in 1897.

References

1. ^ Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names". http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+country+town+names. Retrieved 2011-05-11. 
2. ^ "NIAGARA.". The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879-1954) (Perth, WA: National Library of Australia): p. 2. 25 August 1896. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3098261. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
3. ^ "MENZIES AND NIAGARA.". Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885-1954) (Perth, WA: National Library of Australia): p. 17. 10 January 1896. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33121543. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 
4. ^ "Morawa District histoarical society - Ghost towns in WA". 2011-05-11. http://members.westnet.com.au/caladenia/ghosttowns/N.pdf. 
5. ^ "NIAGARA STATE BATTERY.". Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896-1916) (WA: National Library of Australia): p. 4. 30 December 1913. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33531527. Retrieved 14 May 2011.