Princess Royal, Western Australia

Princess Royal is an abandoned town in the Goldfields–Esperance region in Western Australia. It was named after a gold mine that was the basis for the town. The mine was named after Victoria, Princess Royal, eldest daughter of Queen Victoria. It was located near Norseman.

Princess Royal
Western Australia
Princess Royal is located in Western Australia
Princess Royal
Princess Royal
Coordinates32°08′02″S 121°48′14″E / 32.134°S 121.804°E / -32.134; 121.804
Established1904
Postcode(s)6443
Elevation291 m (955 ft)
Location
  • 734 km (456 mi) east of Perth
  • 8 km (5 mi) north of Norseman
LGA(s)Shire of Dundas
State electorate(s)Eyre
Federal division(s)O'Connor

A rich gold reef was discovered in the area in the 1895 by a party of prospectors – Chester, Peddler and Flanagan. Alluvial gold was later found in 1900 and a townsite was established to house the miners. The townsite was gazetted in 1904.[1] At one stage there were two adjacent mines- Princess Royal, and Princess Royal Central.[2]

A police station was built before 1905 and the first officer in charge arrived in that year; the station later closed in 1908. The town boasted four hotels in 1906, as well as a host of other businesses.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "History of country town names – P". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  2. ^ "PRINCESS ROYAL CENTRAL, WESTERN AUSTRALIA". The Age. No. 15497. Victoria, Australia. 8 November 1904. p. 7. Retrieved 10 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Morawa District Historical society" (PDF). 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2011.[permanent dead link]