Callion, Western Australia

Callion
Western Australia
Callion is located in Western Australia
Callion
Callion
Coordinates30°07′01″S 120°34′01″E / 30.117°S 120.567°E / -30.117; 120.567
Established1897
Postcode(s)8436
Elevation485 m (1,591 ft)
Location
  • 788 km (490 mi) NE of Perth
  • 60 km (37 mi) south of Menzies
LGA(s)Shire of Menzies
State electorate(s)Kalgoorlie
Federal division(s)O'Connor

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.[3]

One of the first mines established in the area was the Lady Kate, which was operating in early 1896.[4] A 20 head battery was erected in the town in 1897[5] and continued to operate until at least[6] 1902.[7]

A cemetery is all that is left of the old townsite, which is now part of Credo Station.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Murchison". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 28 November 1895. p. 5. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  2. ^ "Speakman's New Find". Daily_News_(Perth,_Western_Australia). Perth: National Library of Australia. 10 October 1895. p. 5. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  3. ^ "History of country town names – C". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Lady Kate". Coolgardie Pioneer. Coolgardie: National Library of Australia. 25 March 1896. p. 15. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Mining News". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 11 February 1897. p. 3. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Menzies". Western Mail. Perth: National Library of Australia. 26 May 1899. p. 36. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  7. ^ "Kalgoorlie Mining". The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 25 February 1902. p. 8. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  8. ^ "WA 4WD – Callion Cemetery". 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2011.