Buldania, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Buldania is an abandoned town north-east of Norseman
in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia
. The small townsite, located about 8 kilometres (5 mi) north of the Eyre Highway
, serviced a field which was discovered in June 1896 by Arthur Bell. Despite the high yield of ore which was obtained, progress was slow due to the difficult terrain of the Fraser Range (being primarily composed of hard quartz below the surface) combined with a lack of capital to develop the area. By the end of 1897 it had a population of 51, notably including only one female. By April 1901, this had fallen to 18 and by 1903, the Western Argus
noted the area was "unfortunately practically deserted". This was confirmed by an official report in May 1906: "Some 10 or 11 leases have at times been applied for and worked to some extent. All are now abandoned, and the field quite deserted."
Norseman, Western Australia
Norseman is a town located in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia along the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway, east of Perth and above sea level. It is also the starting point of the Eyre Highway, and the last major town in Western Australia before the South Australian border to the...
in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The small townsite, located about 8 kilometres (5 mi) north of the Eyre Highway
Eyre Highway
The Eyre Highway is a highway linking Western Australia and South Australia via the Nullarbor Plain. Signed as National Highway 1/A1, it forms part of Highway 1 and the Australian National Highway network linking Perth and Adelaide. It was named after explorer Edward John Eyre, who was the first to...
, serviced a field which was discovered in June 1896 by Arthur Bell. Despite the high yield of ore which was obtained, progress was slow due to the difficult terrain of the Fraser Range (being primarily composed of hard quartz below the surface) combined with a lack of capital to develop the area. By the end of 1897 it had a population of 51, notably including only one female. By April 1901, this had fallen to 18 and by 1903, the Western Argus
Western Argus
The Western Argus was a newspaper published in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia by Hocking & Co. Ltd., from 1894-1938.-Further reading:* Kirwan, John, The story of a Goldfields newspaper : a romance of the press : Kalgoorlie early days. Journal and proceedings Western Australian Historical Society :...
noted the area was "unfortunately practically deserted". This was confirmed by an official report in May 1906: "Some 10 or 11 leases have at times been applied for and worked to some extent. All are now abandoned, and the field quite deserted."