Big Bell, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Big Bell is a derelict town in Western Australia
near the town of Cue
, established in 1936, and was home to the Big Bell Gold Mine
.
Mining ceased in 2003 and the plant was dismantled and transported to the Westonia minesite
in 2007.
It is a former railway branch terminus in Western Australia
's Murchison Region. The first train arrived in Big Bell on 6 January 1937, however the line was not officially opened until 12 August that year. Services ceased from September 1944, but were revived the following year when the war in Europe was winding down and the gold mine reopened. The line finally closed on 31 December 1955
Not much of the buildings remain, but the roads stay visible in their original position as dirt tracks. It is very visible from an aerial view.
The Big Bell hotel reputedly had the longest bar in Australia
.
In 1902 Herbert Hoover
, who would later become the 31st President of the United States
, was a company representative at the Big Bell open cut gold mine.
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...
near the town of Cue
Cue, Western Australia
- Further reading:* 'Along the Cue railway. Inspection of line with suggested improvements, visit to Georgina Siding'. West Australian, 11 June 1898, p. 5-External links:* *...
, established in 1936, and was home to the Big Bell Gold Mine
Big Bell Gold Mine
The Big Bell Gold Mine is a gold mine located at Big Bell, 24 km north-west of Cue, Western Australia. The mine was owned and operated by Harmony Gold at the time of its closure in June 2003, having produced 2.6 million ounces of gold during its lifetime, but was sold to Aragon Resources...
.
Mining ceased in 2003 and the plant was dismantled and transported to the Westonia minesite
Westonia, Western Australia
Westonia is a small town located in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 10 kilometres north of the Great Eastern Highway. It is the main town in the Shire of Westonia.-History:...
in 2007.
It is a former railway branch terminus in 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...
's Murchison Region. The first train arrived in Big Bell on 6 January 1937, however the line was not officially opened until 12 August that year. Services ceased from September 1944, but were revived the following year when the war in Europe was winding down and the gold mine reopened. The line finally closed on 31 December 1955
Not much of the buildings remain, but the roads stay visible in their original position as dirt tracks. It is very visible from an aerial view.
The Big Bell hotel reputedly had the longest bar in Australia
Longest bar in Australia
As with any such statistic, there are a number of claims for the title "the longest bar in Australia":* Captains Flat, New South Wales: When the new hotel was built in 1938 was said to have the longest bar in Australia at the time; it was long....
.
In 1902 Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
, who would later become the 31st President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, was a company representative at the Big Bell open cut gold mine.
Further reading
- O'Sullivan, Mardie.The Big Bell Hotel, 1937-1987 , 1988
- Warne, L. Big Bell 1904-1954 : some historical notes of interest. [Big Bell, W.A.] : Big Bell Historical Committee, 1954.