Bonnie Vale, Western Australia Explained

Type:town
Bonnie Vale
State:wa
Lga:Shire of Coolgardie
Coordinates:-30.856°N 121.162°W
Postcode:6430
Est:1897
Elevation:375
Stategov:Eyre
Fedgov:O'Connor
Dist1:570
Dir1:ENE
Location1:Perth, Western Australia
Dist2:12
Dir2:north
Location2:Coolgardie

Bonnie Vale is an abandoned goldfields townsite north of Coolgardie in the Shire of Coolgardie in Western Australia.

History

The town was gazetted in 1897. It was apparently named after Bonnie, a prospector who picked up a 7ozt nugget here in May/June 1894.

It is famous as the site of the Varischetti mine rescue of 1907, when Italian gold miner Modesto Varischetti was trapped for nine days in a mine when it was flooded after a thunderstorm. Varischetti survived in an air pocket until rescued. A diver using deep-sea diving equipment located Varischetti five days after the mine was flooded, and provided him with food, candles and letters of encouragement.

Rail services

The Prospector service, which runs each way between East Perth and Kalgoorlie once or twice each day, stops at Bonnie Vale.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Prospector Timetable . Transwa . Public Transport Authority . 9 October 2022 . 30 March 2024.