Callion, Western Australia Explained

Type:town
Callion
State:wa
Lga:Shire of Menzies
Coordinates:-30.117°N 120.567°W
Postcode:8436
Est:1897
Elevation:485
Stategov:Kalgoorlie
Fedgov:O'Connor
Dist1:788
Dir1:NE
Location1:Perth
Dist2:60
Dir2:south
Location2:Menzies

Callion is an abandoned town in the Goldfields-Esperance region in Western Australia. It is between Coolgardie and Leonora, in the Shire of Menzies.

Gold was discovered here in 1895 and the town was originally known as Speakman's Find after the prospector who made the original discovery. The lease, owned by Speakman, Cooke and Lukin, was 30 acres in size and contained three reefs.[1] The reefs became the Callion Mine, reportedly named after the local Aboriginal word for quartz,[2] although it has been speculated that it was the name of another prospector, without any evidence. The town was gazetted in 1897.

One of the first mines established in the area was the Lady Kate, which was operating in early 1896.[3] A 20 head battery was erected in the town in 1897[4] and continued to operate until at least[5] 1902.[6]

A cemetery is all that is left of the old townsite, which is now part of Credo Station.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Murchison . . Perth . 28 November 1895 . 10 May 2011 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: Speakman's New Find . . Perth . 10 October 1895 . 20 March 2021 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: Lady Kate . . Coolgardie . 25 March 1896 . 14 March 2021 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Mining News . . Perth . 11 February 1897 . 10 May 2011 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Menzies. . . Perth . 26 May 1899 . 10 May 2011 . 36 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: Kalgoorlie Mining . . Adelaide . 25 February 1902 . 10 May 2011 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  7. Web site: WA 4WD – Callion Cemetery. 2010. 9 May 2011.