Wycheproof Gold Mine (Golden Eagle), Bardoc, Broad Arrow Goldfield, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Wycheproof Gold Mine (Golden Eagle)	Mine
Bardoc	- not defined -
Broad Arrow Goldfield	Ore Field
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The mine is 2 kilometres north-east of Bardoc (which consists of three houses on the highway). Just north of the houses a track heads north-east. Another track goes east north-east to a dam. After 2 kilometres along the first track is a 500 metre line of shafts, the southern portion just east of the track, the central bordering the track itself, and the northern section just east of the track again.

This was called the Blue Bar line of workings, the Wycheproof the main lease of several along the line of workings. In 1898 it was described as being on the east side of a hill, in diorite country rock. The shaft at 120 foot had been cross cut west to a large auriferous bearing lode, 20 feet wide, with 'sensationally' rich gold, highly mineralised with sulphide pyrites. Gold was able to be washed freely from the rubble.

The original prospectors were not found, but the lease was sold to
R. Devane, Monaghan and party, in 1896, who then develop the mine for several years. Ore was being carted to a battery at Northam, several hundred kilometres away, east of Perth.

The mine was offered in London in 1902, but this appears to have failed. Messenger and party are noted at the mine from 1902 to 1904, and several crushings are processed. A 1903 picture shows a shaft with a rickety canvas and bush wood patio, with no equipment whatsoever at the site. Four men are pictured, one it is assumed Messenger. September 1903, Frederick Radnell (28) was killed in a fall of earth.

In 1910, James Wightman had abandoned the Lancashire Hero Gold Mine, and taken up the Wycheproof with the Dudley brothers. They re-named the mine the Golden Eagle. Across 1910 to 1911, several crushings were extracted before the mine was abandoned again.

During this initial period the mine had produced 573 tonnes of ore for 793 ounces.

The Lanarkshire Company take a working option over the mine across 1934 to 1935. A.J. McGeorge is mine manager. A shaft was sunk, then they abandoned the mine. Late 1938, the New Golden Mile (Cracow) NL take out a 12 month option over the mine, spending 2000 pounds. This also came to nought.

The lease was owned from the beginning of 1938 by J.W. Cranston, Tony Mateljan, J.A. Rocke, and F.S. Coxon. GML 2079W and 2155W, Wycheproof and Wycheproof South. The syndicate had crushed 1400 tonnes to 1939, between the option mentioned above for an average 8.5 dwt. The ore was semi sulphide, refractory, and had to be sent to Kalgoorlie for crushing. Little profit had been made on the ore as a result. The ore had been taken from the 150 foot level, the lode or reef averaging 6 foot wide. They had spent 3000 pounds, and employed seven men. 48 acres.

The beginning of 1939 Charles De Bernales took out yet another option over the mine, but this was soon abandoned, as his speculating empire began to crumble around him.

J. Rocke and party mentioned above crushed 117 tonnes at 18 dwt at the South Kalgurli battery late 1939. The stone came from a depth of 150 foot, the workings opened a length of 400 feet.

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References