Tambourah Goldfield, Shaw River District, East Pilbara Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Tambourah Goldfield	Ore Field
Shaw River District	Mining District
East Pilbara Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

Tambourah is the modern spelling for the location, Tambourrah the historic spelling, Tamborah as spelt by government geologist, Gibb-Maitland in his 1908 report. Western Shaw is historically a separate area some 10 kilometres south-east, but had been combined here.

Tambourah can be found about half way along a little used road between the Abydos/Woodstock indigenous communities, and the Hillside pastoral station homestead where the Black Range crosses the Shaw River.

The upper reaches of the Tambourah Creek crosses the road, and here alluvial gold was found in gullies leading off the creek, over several kilometres. The rush occurred here according to one source in 1894, stating prospectors Dawson, Barnes, and Lorden (surnames) first discovered the reefs. This lease became the World's Fair lease, and a battery was erected, but by 1899 it was out of action, leading to a rapid decline at the goldfield. In 1897, the shanty town which had developed contains 40 people, a telegraph office, pub and two stores.

The various mines are within a few kilometres both north and south of where the creek crosses the present road. It is rugged country, and little appears to remain at the locations.

Alluvial at Western Shaw was discovered in 1891, and soon 400 men were at the locations. Within a fortnight over half had left. Only about half found any gold. Alluvial gold was never recorded at the time by the Mines Department. One 50 ounce nugget was reported, but there were probably many more. Warden L.R. Davis stated at the time the gold found was of very inferior quality.

Remoteness, lack of water and other factors saw inaction after the alluvial miners left, until 1896, when the Imperial Western Australia Corporation Ltd erected a battery. A small shanty town developed with 20 people, one pub and store. By 1899, the battery had closed and the field was largely abandoned.

Little remains of the old mines, and would be difficult to locate in rough, hilly and remote countryside, spread over a few kilometres, about 10 kilometres south-east of the Tambourah Creek crossing described above. A track leaves the main road about 3 kilometres east of the creek crossing, and wends south through rugged country some 10 kilometres to what appears to be two prospector's camps, listed on maps as the Western Shaw and General Gordon mines. These two closely spaced locations at the southern end of the field, are the only modern activity seen.

Tambourah Creek flows in a north-easterly direction into the Shaw River.

Map-Google maps lists the creek as the Ord River. This is incorrect, and is the Tambourah Creek. One of numerous errors on Google maps for Western Australia. Travellers in these remote areas should purchase detailed maps of the paper variety.

References

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