Waverley, Western Australia

Waverley, or Siberia, is a ghost town located between Kalgoorlie and Leonora. It is on the Davyhurst to Ora Banda Road in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia and has formed part of Maduwongga territory.

For the area formerly known locally as Waverley, see Cannington, Western Australia.

Waverley
Western Australia
Waverley
Coordinates30.243°S 120.954°E / -30.243; 120.954
Established1898
Postcode(s)6431
Elevation443 m (1,453 ft)
Location
LGA(s)City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
State electorate(s)Electoral district of Kalgoorlie
Federal Division(s)O'Connor

Two prospectors Billy Frost and Bob Bonner discovered gold in the area in the late 1893, resulting in a gold rush to the area. The increasing population indicated a need for a townsite to be planned and lots were surveyed in 1898, which was initially to be named Siberia. The local progress association decided that the town should be named Waverley after a nearby mine. The townsite was gazetted as Waverley in 1898.[1]

Some of the mines close to town include Siberia, Waverley, Mexico and the Pole leases.

In 1911 the Postmaster General raised concern about the duplication of town names in Australia, including Waverley. Alternative names such as Wongi (the name of a nearby soak) and Siberia. The locals preferred Siberia and the name was officially gazetted in 1914. The name comes from Siberia Tank, a water supply that is close to the town.

In 1924, two miners, Emery and MacLachlan, picked up on the continuation of a deep alluvial lead and obtained satisfactory results.[2]

The last resident left town in 1954.[3]

References
  1. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names – S". Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  2. "SIBERIA". Western Argus. Kalgoorlie, Western Australia: National Library of Australia. 22 April 1924. p. 3. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  3. "Morawa District Historical society" (PDF). 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
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