Champion Gold Mine, Kookynie, Kookynie Goldfield, Menzies Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Champion Gold Mine	Mine
Kookynie	- not defined -
Kookynie Goldfield	Ore Field
Menzies Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

Said to be the second largest gold mine historically in the Kookynie area. Limited information was found. None during its prospector stage in the late 1890's.

Sometime mid 1900, the Champion Proprietary Company was floated to develop the mine. Initially it flourished and crushings were found to 1904. The first note was found in 1900 stating the workings had been flooded. In 1901, the source states not a great deal of development work had been done to that point, but the gold found had been rich. 77 acres. 3000 tonnes had been processed to that time at 7 dwt, all from the 75 foot level on a reef 8 feet wide. A 10 head battery was being erected.

God it is claimed was the cause of the company's demise. (Mine Manager) 'Tom Williams was a cheerful affable soul, but too holy altogether for the sordid game of mining. Control drifted into fossildom and extreme piety as Tom immersed himself in his beloved Bible during working hours.'

A long list of tributers, short term options, sampling by mining companies followed, but none were able to take on the deposit systematically.

The initial tributors amounting to nine individuals, ran into financial trouble as the creditors seized the gold at the battery as it was being crushed. This left the tributer's employees unpaid. Court action was threatened.

Perry, Gilmour, MacMillan and McGregor (surnames) had taken over the mine later in 1905, and worked it as owners for a number of years, and some later as tributers. Batteries were erected in 1901, 1907 and 1910 by various parties. The last was by Charles de Bernales for an interest in the mine. Up to 1914, the shaft was down to a depth of 130 metres.

William Dunkley died at the mine in 1903. Dugald Kennedy (48) was killed underground in a fall of earth late February 1910. The jury as usual found no-one to blame in either case.

Up to the mid 1930's, the mine had produced 62 500 tonnes of ore for 32 600 ounces of gold.

During the 1940's the Owen brothers worked the deposit, and erected yet another battery.

A small pit was developed in the late 1980's. Gold is associated with a quartz reef in sheared dolerites and felsic volcanics. The reef dips 70 degrees east, trends north-south, and shoots within the reef pitch steeply north.

The Champion Gold Mine is approximately five kilometres north of Kookynie, and just south of where the Malcolm-Kookynie Road crosses the railway line. All the workings are showing signs of age, including the long narrow 1980's pit, and tailings heap bordering to the west. To the east is an overgrown battery sands area. Minor shafts and alluvial workings can be found a short distance south and north. The reef line continues north on the other side of the road into the Batavia and Britannia mines. The old state battery site is found about three kilometres to the west along a number of tracks, and there are various other workings in the area.

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