State Batteries in Western Australia were government-owned and -run ore-crushing facilities for the gold mining industry. Western Australia was the only Australian state to provide batteries to assist gold prospectors and small mines. They existed in almost all of the Mineral fields of Western Australia.
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State Batteries were gold batteries where ore was crushed to separate gold ore. Stamp mills were gauged by the number of heads they had in operation for the crushing of ore.
Many of the government operated batteries had very short operating times, some for a year or two, while a few were 50 years or more in operation. They were part of the Western Australian Department of Mines operations.
Origins
The first private battery in Kalgoorlie was constructed at the Croesus mine in 1894. As early as 1897 there was consideration of ore-crushing facilities being funded by private or government means. The first government battery was constructed at Norseman in 1898 . But by 1906 there was a Batteries Inquiry Board.
Decline
In the 1930s, despite the depression, a significant number still operated. There were close to 100 operating Batteries in Western Australia – either private or Government in 1949, and by 1958 there were less than 50. currently there are no operating batteries.
By 1982 a Government review of State Battery operations eventuated in a functional review, and the eventual closure of State Batteries in 1987.