Golden West Gold Mine, Catherwood Group, Kintore-Kunanalling Goldfield, Coolgardie Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Golden West Gold Mine	Mine
Catherwood Group	- not defined -
Kintore-Kunanalling Goldfield	Ore Field
Coolgardie Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Golden West Gold Mine is south-east of the former Kunanalling townsite, and north-west of the Bluebell Gold Mine.

It is a historic location from the 1890's, but is best remember for the death of three miners from gas in February 1936. They were Ralph Douglas Young (27) Mine Manager, Alexander Henderson (34), and Norman Waldo Lethridge (26). The Golden West Company had taken over several leases near the old Golden West Mine. One of the above men had entered a disused shaft at Sadie's lease, and was bailing water into a 40 gallon drum, which was then hoisted to the surface.

The water contained hydrogen sulphide, which was released when the water was disturbed. The miner was overcome and fell into the water. The other two men, including the mine manager died after entering the shaft to rescue the first. Young was found alive, and frothing at the mouth, but died shortly after.

The tragedy finally shone the spotlight on the high mortality and injury rate amongst miners. There was an emphasis on Italian immigrants in the fatalities, as locals often would not do the work because of the dangers. High death and injury rates can be traced back to the beginnings of large scale mining in Western Australia in the early 1890's.

These were reported on by the annual Mine's Department reports, and it can be seen gradually over the years this information grows from an after thought at the back of the report, to taking prominence. Safety measures were gradually improved, but often not followed in the mines. An inquest was always instituted after a death, and nearly always the death was viewed as accidental with no-one at fault. While no penalty existed for mine owners to take safety seriously, mining accidents continued.

In the first two months of 1936, there had been nine fatalities at mine sites in Western Australia. In 1935, 19 miners died, and the total for 1936 was 29. This is not including injuries.

Of the 29, Valenti (Horseshoe No 2), J.D. Foxall (Lancefield), G. Tagliaferri (Sons of Gwalia), David Grant (Paget), and Azzola were killed in explosions. Portch (Ivanhoe), E.J. Lewis (Darlot), P.H. Dawson (Lancefield), J.E. Pratt (Sons of Gwalia), C. Gosetti (May Queen), and Robert Harvey (Gem) were all killed when stone or machinery fell down the shaft and hit them. Babich (Chaffers), E.F. Sutton (Paget), A. Belti (Linden), M. Donnetti (Last Hope), J. Cannon (Dixie Regina), J.L. Johnstone (Yellowdine), were killed when they fell down shafts. Nicoli (Celebration), and Thomas Clews (Blackett's) from falls of earth in underground workings. Ferguson (Ivanhoe) slipped into an ore pass. Roy Taylor's (Leviathan) overcoat was caught in machinery which dragged him into it. Quigley (Chaffers) was injured through an un-specified reason, and subsequently it became infected and he died. The three Golden West men, and George Lang (Bohemia) were gassed. The unluckiest was Marshall (Iron Duke), who was showing a party of visitors around the mine. They were on a dam wall at the mine, when the weight caused the dam to burst.

When added over the years, together with those who died from asbestos at Wittenoom, the death toll amounts to thousands. Safety had to wait until after World War Two. While mining is inherently a dangerous business, Australian mine sites are now some of the safest in the world.

The Mindat co-ordinates are approximate, and denote a line of shafts, one or some relating to the location.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References