Vivien, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Vivien is an abandoned
town located between Leinster
and Leonora
in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia.
Initially the town was known as Harris which was developed in 1903 then extended in 1905 when the local progress association asked for additional lots to be surveyed. It was around this time the town became known as Vivien, since the Vivien Gold Mine and the Vivien Gem Reef were both located close by. The townsite was gazetted in 1906.
The name Vivien is though to be in honour of the author
May Vivienne whose book about her travels about the Western Australian goldfields was published in 1902.
The Townsite existed between 1904 and 1911. It is located near Leister and Leonora (two functioning mining Town) to coordinates of the Townsite are27°58′44″S 120°33′47″E. the Townsite is located off the road to Mt. Sir Samuel, 982 km North Eats of Perth, 14Km West of Leister and 9 miles from Lawlers, another abandoned gold mining Townsite which Vivien used to play cricket with. In exist with the Shire of Leonora, state district of Kalgoolie and the Federal seat of O’Connor
The Townsite had a short-lived history and only ever consisted off a few businesses, one hotel and the Vivien Gem Mine. The first mention of the sitehowever is in 1892, in the U S Lands declaration of reserve (near Vivien) for rifle range. However the townsite was not established for a few more years. At the time the Townsite was developed, around 1903 it was known as Harris. The British King Mine transferred its treatment plant to Harris in October 1904, most likely the reason the town was established. In 1904 the population is recoded as being 10, in 1905 the Townsite was extended, we have documentation form the state archives recoding the application for expansion of the rifle range on the west side of the townsite and then gazetted in 1906. At this point the Townsite changed its name to Vivien, in honor of May Vivienne, a distinguished twice widowed, opera singer who traveled through the area in 1899-1900. Her book that was first published in 1901 by Heinemann titled “ Travels in Western Australia” sang the praises of the area, expressing her particular enjoyment of her encounters with the locals, mainly men.
In 1910 the population is recoded as 20 head and the townsite dissolved in 1911 (around the time of the second world war). Some evidence leads to the townsite’s population being primarily made up of Migrant, specifically Italian Migrant. This is plausible considering the context the town existed with in, where the Australia together with the British were actively promoting Australia as a site of prosperous futures. Other maps for the state archives inform us of the structure of the townsite. Vivien consisted of six streets, Smith Street, Blair Street Little Street, Short Street, Harris Street and George Street that functioned as a perfect grid. Two separate maps form this time outline the location of lots, both vacant and occupied, men’s blocks, state offices as well riffle ranges and recreation areas. Lots were selling at between 20 and 15 pounds, however in 1906 most remained unoccupied. Documentation from this time informs us that crown grants on the land would extend 40 feet below the surface.
The Vivien Gem Mine was the crucial life source of the townsite. The mine and shafts at a dipping incline of 66 degrees and spread over 5 levels and intervals of 100 feet. The miens most notable machinery included a winding machine, air compressing plant as well as it valuable treatment plant. For the treatment of slimes The Gem mine was located near lake Darlot and in its life span produced 76,795.19 ounces of gold and 209,520.18 tons of ore. In 1911 Vivien Gem mine closed, at exactly the same point as the townsite disbanded.
A lady named Norma King’s father visited the site in 1937-1938 in an official capacity where he found a ghost town with only a hotel and store still standing. All other documentation of the townsite pertains to the official cancelation and organization of liabilities. A document form dated 24th of October 1924 to the law firm Messer Lorhmann & Tindal declared Vivien Gem Gold Mining to be without liabilities.
On the maps form the 1906 we can see a 1970 and a 1987 review, declaring the official cancellation of the townsite. A survey of the lands dates 22ndof November 1972, then re dated December 1972 and December 1981, describes the site in its state then. It mentions that there are no developed lots however lots 10 and 14 have sunken cellars. There is no residue on structures and a deep mineshaft remains on the east bounder. The site understood to have a station fence in good condition and a gravel road cutting across several lots in the townsite.
This is the most recent information we are able to find on the site. The only other understanding we have is thought Google images, which though the satellite documentation gives us a current view of the Townsite. To advance our research any further we must visit the townsite.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
town located between Leinster
Leinster, Western Australia
Leinster is a town in the northern goldfields area of Western Australia. The town is located 4 km east of the Goldfields Highway, in the Shire of Leonora Local Government Area, northeast of the state capital, Perth...
and Leonora
Leonora, Western Australia
Leonora is a town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located northeast of the state capital, Perth, and north of the city of Kalgoorlie. At the 2006 census, Leonora had a population of 401, about a third of whom are of Aboriginal descent. The area is extremely arid, with a...
in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia.
Initially the town was known as Harris which was developed in 1903 then extended in 1905 when the local progress association asked for additional lots to be surveyed. It was around this time the town became known as Vivien, since the Vivien Gold Mine and the Vivien Gem Reef were both located close by. The townsite was gazetted in 1906.
The name Vivien is though to be in honour of the author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
May Vivienne whose book about her travels about the Western Australian goldfields was published in 1902.
The Townsite existed between 1904 and 1911. It is located near Leister and Leonora (two functioning mining Town) to coordinates of the Townsite are27°58′44″S 120°33′47″E. the Townsite is located off the road to Mt. Sir Samuel, 982 km North Eats of Perth, 14Km West of Leister and 9 miles from Lawlers, another abandoned gold mining Townsite which Vivien used to play cricket with. In exist with the Shire of Leonora, state district of Kalgoolie and the Federal seat of O’Connor
The Townsite had a short-lived history and only ever consisted off a few businesses, one hotel and the Vivien Gem Mine. The first mention of the sitehowever is in 1892, in the U S Lands declaration of reserve (near Vivien) for rifle range. However the townsite was not established for a few more years. At the time the Townsite was developed, around 1903 it was known as Harris. The British King Mine transferred its treatment plant to Harris in October 1904, most likely the reason the town was established. In 1904 the population is recoded as being 10, in 1905 the Townsite was extended, we have documentation form the state archives recoding the application for expansion of the rifle range on the west side of the townsite and then gazetted in 1906. At this point the Townsite changed its name to Vivien, in honor of May Vivienne, a distinguished twice widowed, opera singer who traveled through the area in 1899-1900. Her book that was first published in 1901 by Heinemann titled “ Travels in Western Australia” sang the praises of the area, expressing her particular enjoyment of her encounters with the locals, mainly men.
In 1910 the population is recoded as 20 head and the townsite dissolved in 1911 (around the time of the second world war). Some evidence leads to the townsite’s population being primarily made up of Migrant, specifically Italian Migrant. This is plausible considering the context the town existed with in, where the Australia together with the British were actively promoting Australia as a site of prosperous futures. Other maps for the state archives inform us of the structure of the townsite. Vivien consisted of six streets, Smith Street, Blair Street Little Street, Short Street, Harris Street and George Street that functioned as a perfect grid. Two separate maps form this time outline the location of lots, both vacant and occupied, men’s blocks, state offices as well riffle ranges and recreation areas. Lots were selling at between 20 and 15 pounds, however in 1906 most remained unoccupied. Documentation from this time informs us that crown grants on the land would extend 40 feet below the surface.
The Vivien Gem Mine was the crucial life source of the townsite. The mine and shafts at a dipping incline of 66 degrees and spread over 5 levels and intervals of 100 feet. The miens most notable machinery included a winding machine, air compressing plant as well as it valuable treatment plant. For the treatment of slimes The Gem mine was located near lake Darlot and in its life span produced 76,795.19 ounces of gold and 209,520.18 tons of ore. In 1911 Vivien Gem mine closed, at exactly the same point as the townsite disbanded.
A lady named Norma King’s father visited the site in 1937-1938 in an official capacity where he found a ghost town with only a hotel and store still standing. All other documentation of the townsite pertains to the official cancelation and organization of liabilities. A document form dated 24th of October 1924 to the law firm Messer Lorhmann & Tindal declared Vivien Gem Gold Mining to be without liabilities.
On the maps form the 1906 we can see a 1970 and a 1987 review, declaring the official cancellation of the townsite. A survey of the lands dates 22ndof November 1972, then re dated December 1972 and December 1981, describes the site in its state then. It mentions that there are no developed lots however lots 10 and 14 have sunken cellars. There is no residue on structures and a deep mineshaft remains on the east bounder. The site understood to have a station fence in good condition and a gravel road cutting across several lots in the townsite.
This is the most recent information we are able to find on the site. The only other understanding we have is thought Google images, which though the satellite documentation gives us a current view of the Townsite. To advance our research any further we must visit the townsite.