Yunndaga, Western Australia

Yunndaga
Western Australia
Yunndaga is located in Western Australia
Yunndaga
Yunndaga
Coordinates29°44′50″S 121°03′16″E / 29.747194°S 121.054529°E / -29.747194; 121.054529
Established1904
Postcode(s)6438
Elevation422 m (1,385 ft)
Location
  • 718 km (446 mi) ENE of Perth
  • 7 km (4 mi) south of Menzies
LGA(s)Shire of Menzies
State electorate(s)Kalgoorlie
Federal division(s)O'Connor

Yunndaga is an abandoned town located in the Goldfields-Esperance region in Western Australia, between Kalgoorlie and Leonora along the Goldfields Highway.

In the mid-1890s gold was discovered in the area, and by 1898 a layout for businesses and residences was planned, initially called Woolgar. By 1904 the mining warden sought for the town to be declared. A town named Woolgar already existed in Queensland, so Yunndaga was chosen instead. The town was gazetted in March 1904.[1]

In 1897 when construction of the Kalgoorlie to Menzies railway line commenced a siding was later established in Yunndaga. The narrow gauge line was closed in 1973 and the siding was subsequently demolished.[2]

A Roman Catholic and Methodist church had both been built in the town by 1904.[3]

The Yunndaga hotel was built prior to 1918, and was sold to J. K. Robinson for £3000 at that time.[4]

By 1924, the town was home to several businesses, including the Royal Group Hotel. One of the main mines close to town at the time was the Menzies Consolidated Gold Mine.[5]

In 1936 there were 50 residents living in the town.[6]

The name of the town is Aboriginal in origin and was originally spelt as Yundagar. The meaning of the name is not known.

References

  1. ^ "History of country town names – Y". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  2. ^ "Register of Heritage places – Assessment documentation" (PDF). National Library of Australia. November 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2005. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  3. ^ "News and notes". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 14 March 1904. p. 4. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Yunndaga hotel litigation". Western Argus. Kalgoorlie, Western Australia: National Library of Australia. 1 October 1918. p. 11. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  5. ^ "Yunndaga". Western Argus. Kalgoorlie, Western Australia: National Library of Australia. 25 November 1924. p. 16. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  6. ^ "Gallon licence granted". Western Argus. Kalgoorlie, Western Australia: National Library of Australia. 17 November 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 12 February 2012.