Bonnie Vale, Western Australia
| Bonnie Vale Western Australia | |
|---|---|
  Bonnie Vale | |
| Coordinates | 30°51′22″S 121°09′43″E / 30.856°S 121.162°ECoordinates: 30°51′22″S 121°09′43″E / 30.856°S 121.162°E |
| Established | 1897 |
| Postcode(s) | 6430 |
| Elevation | 375 m (1,230 ft) |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Shire of Coolgardie |
| State electorate(s) | Eyre |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Bonnie Vale is an abandoned goldfields townsite 14 km north of Coolgardie in Western Australia.
The town was gazetted in 1897. It was apparently named after Bonnie, a prospector who picked up a 7 oz troy (220 g) nugget here in May/June 1894.[1]
It is famous as the site of the Varischetti mine rescue of 1907, when Italian gold miner Modesto Varischetti was trapped for nine days in a mine when it was flooded after a thunderstorm. Varischetti survived in an air pocket until rescued. A diver using deep-sea diving equipment located Varischetti five days after the mine was flooded, and provided him with food, candles and letters of encouragement.
It serves as the railway station for Coolgardie on the Prospector Perth to Kalgoorlie passenger service.
Rail services
The Prospector service, which runs each way between East Perth and Kalgoorlie once or twice each day, stops at Bonnie Vale.[2]
| Preceding station | Transwa Trains network | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
towards East Perth | Prospector | Terminus |
References
- ↑ Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names – B". Retrieved 8 June 2007.
- ↑ Prospector Timetable