Menzies Local History
Menzies is a small town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. It is located 130 km north of Kalgoorlie and 728 km east of Perth. The town has a rich history that dates back to the late 1800s when gold was discovered in the area.
It is believed that the area was first explored by Europeans in the early 1860s. These explorers were looking for pastoral land and water sources, but they soon discovered gold instead. However, it was not until the late 1890s that serious mining began in the area.
The town of Menzies was named after a former Western Australian Premier, Sir John Forrest's private secretary, Leslie Menzies. The town was originally called 'Niagara', but it was changed in 1896 to honor Menzies. The town quickly grew, and by 1901, it had a population of over 10,000 people.
During this time, the town had all the amenities of a modern city, including a hospital, post office, schools, churches, banks, and several hotels. Menzies became the center of a thriving gold-mining industry that attracted miners from all over the world. The town was one of the most important gold towns in Western Australia, second only to Kalgoorlie.
However, by the 1920s, the gold rush had begun to slow down, and many of the mines in Menzies were closed. The population of the town began to decline, and many of the amenities that the town had once enjoyed were closed down. Nevertheless, the town continued to survive, and in the 1960s and 1970s, the area experienced a small-scale gold rush.
Today, Menzies is a small town with a population of around 100 people. The town has a number of historic buildings that are still standing, including the Menzies Courthouse, the Menzies Hotel, and the Menzies Cemetery. Visitors to the town can take a guided tour of the historic sites, including the old mine sites, or visit the museum to learn more about the town's history.
Although the gold rush may be over, Menzies is still an important part of Western Australia's history. The town's rich cultural heritage provides a glimpse into the past and is a reminder of the importance of the gold rush era in shaping the state's identity.