Horseshoe, Western Australia Explained

Type:town
Horseshoe
State:wa
Lga:Shire of Meekatharra
Local Map:yes
Zoom:8
Est:1901
Elevation:568
Stategov:North West
Fedgov:Durack
Coordinates:-25.454°N 118.576°W
Dist1:897
Dir1:NNE
Location1:Perth
Dist2:126
Dir2:north
Location2:Meekatharra

Horseshoe is an abandoned town in Western Australia located in the Murchison goldfields within the Mid West region of Western Australia situated between Meekatharra and Newman. The town is adjacent to the Peak Hill goldfields.

History

Gold was discovered in the immediate area in 1897 and the government had an area thought to be suitable for a townsite surveyed in 1898. The area proved to not be satisfactory to the locals who wanted another area to be used. The new area was surveyed and the town was gazetted in 1901.

The population of the town was 60 (60 males and no females) in 1898.[1]

The town was often known as Horseshoe Bend as a result of one of the original leases in the area was the shape of a horseshoe. It was also commonly known as The Shoe.

The townsite is one of many ghost towns in the area; others include: Peak Hill, Gabanintha, Abbotts and Garden Gully.[2]

Notes and References

  1. News: POPULATION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. . . Perth, WA . 22 April 1898 . 28 May 2012 . 23 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: Sydney Morning Herald - Travel - Meekatharra. 8 February 2004. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2008-09-29.