Ravensthorpe, Western Australia
| Ravensthorpe Western Australia | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Ravensthorpe | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 33°34′59″S 120°02′56″E / 33.583°S 120.049°E | ||||||||
| Population | 438 (2006 census)[1] | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6346 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 232 m (761 ft) | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Ravensthorpe | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Eyre | ||||||||
| Federal division(s) | O'Connor | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Ravensthorpe is a town 541 km south-east of Perth, 40 km inland from the south coast of Western Australia. It is the seat of government of the Shire of Ravensthorpe. At the 2006 census, Ravensthorpe had a population of 438.[1]
Overview
In 1848, the area was surveyed by Surveyor General John Septimus Roe who named many of the geographical features nearby, including the nearby Ravensthorpe Range that the town is named after. The area was first settled by the Dunn brothers during 1868.[2]
The Dunn brothers brought sheep farming to the area in 1871 when George and John Dunn drove a herd from Albany to the area they had established earlier. They were awarded a land grant in 1873 of 4,049 hectares (10,010 acres).[3]
Another of the Dunn brothers, James Dunn discovered gold at Annabel Creek and was awarded a claim by the government. More profitable discoveries followed in 1900 that resulted in a boom. The population climbed to over 1000 and by 1901 the government gazetted the town of Ravensthorpe.[4][5]
The government completed construction of a copper and gold smelter about 2 km south east of the town in 1906, used to cast copper and gold ingots. At its peak of production the smelter employed over 120 men, the now disused smelter is still there and is surrounded by massive piles of tailings waste.
The area continued to prosper and the population grew accordingly, by 1909 the population was over 3000. The prosperity was short-lived; World War I took its toll on the town and by 1918 the local copper smelter had closed and many of the copper and gold mines had closed.
There was also one of the Western Australian Government Railways isolated branch lines between Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe. After the war Ravensthorpe survived servicing the farming in the district. Agriculture in the area began to grow following the great depression and pastoral land releases occurred in the 1960s and 1970s.
Ravensthorpe Nickel Mine
BHP Billiton commenced a feasibility study in 2002 into opening a nickel and cobalt mine and processing plant[6] 35 km East of the town[7] The project was approved in 2004 and construction commenced shortly afterward. The plant known as the Ravensthorpe Nickel Project was commissioned in late 2007 with first production occurring in October and the first 5000 tonnes being produced by December 2007.[8] The plant was officially opened in 2008.[9]
In January 2009, BHP Billiton announced that it was suspending production at the Ravensthorpe nickel mine indefinitely, due the reduction in world nickel prices caused by the global economic crisis. The decision cut 1,800 jobs and is expected to have a major impact on the local economy.[10]
On 9 December 2009, BHP sold its Raventhorpe mine, which it spent A$2.4 billion on to build, to Toronto-based First Quantum for US $ 340 million. First Quantum was one of three bidders for the mine and actually produced the lowest offer. The Canadian company plans to have the mine back in production in mid-2011.[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Ravensthorpe". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
- ^ "Welcome to the Shire of Ravensthorpe". 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "The Age - Ravensthorpe". Melbourne. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ^ "History of country town names – R". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ^ Western Australian Government Gazette, file 6158/00, 9 January 1901, p.195.
- ^ "BHP Sustainability Report - Relationship building". 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ^ "Project Sheet Ravensthorpe Nickel Project, WA" (PDF). 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "BHP Billiton - Nickel West". 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ^ "Sydney Morning Herald - BHP ready for laterite challenge". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ^ Tasker, Sarah-Jane (21 January 2009). "Mining job losses escalate as BHP Billiton cuts 6000". The Australian. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) [dead link] - ^ Canada's First Quantum wins bid to revive Ravensthorpe nickel mine The Australian, published: 10 December 2009, accessed: 10 December 2009