LEINSTER

DESCRIPTION

 

Leinster is basically a working town and houses miners who work in the surrounding area. There is not a great deal to attract casual tourists but the local caravan park is a good place to stop and refresh yourself.

 

Apart from mining there is a pastoral industry in the area that includes Leinster Downs, Pinnacles, Yakabindie, Yeelirrie and Weebo stations.

 

About half of the town's 1400 population are residents while others are 'fly-in, fly-out'.

 

The town needs to accommodate the needs of the workers and has good shopping facilities including a supermarket, beautician, post office, service station, newsagency, coffee shop, hairdresser salon and nursery.

 

There is an olympic-size swimming pool, health and fitness centre, air conditioned squash courts, and a number of other sporting facilities.

 

There is a primary school with about 130 students and distance education programs are available for older students.

 

HISTORY

 

Julius Anderson discovered gold in the area in 1897 and there was substantial mining in the area until about 1906.

 

In 1897 the East Murchison United Company started mining alluvial gold deposit. Western Mining acquired the site in 1989 and renamed it 'Leinster Nickel Operations'.

 

Western Mining Corporation was granted a special lease (21 years) in 1977 to establish a town to support the Agnew nickel project.

 

The town was established as a 'company town' and the name originates from Leinster Downs Station.

 

Today the nickel operations are part of the BHP Billiton Nickel West business group. In 2013 the underground operations at the nickel mine were shut down after a seismic event impacted on the stability of the mine.

 

TALL TALES AND TRUE

 

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MAP

 

 

VIDEO

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Video available from July 13th 2024

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

ATTRACTIONS

 

Agnew Hotel.

 

BUILDINGS OF NOTE

 

Nothing known.

 

ELECTORAL ZONES

 

State : Kalgoorlie

Federal : O'Connor

 

OTHER INFO.

 

Postcode : 6437

Local Government : Shire of Leonora

 

PHOTOS

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