Comet Vale, Western Australia

Comet Vale Western Australia
Comet Vale
Established:	1916
Postcode:	6438
Elevation:	386 m (1,266 ft)
Location:	691 km (429 mi) NNE of Menzies 96 km (60 mi) North of Kalgoorlie
LGA:	Shire of Menzies
State District:	Electoral district of Kalgoorlie
Federal Division:	O'Connor

Coordinates: 29°56′31″S 121°07′34″E / 29.942°S 121.126°E / -29.942; 121.126

Comet Vale is an abandoned town in Western Australia located in the Goldfield region of Western Australia located between Kalgoorlie and Laverton on the Goldfields Highway.

The town site was named after a comet that could be seen at about the time gold was discovered in the area. By 1895 the town had a population of approximetly 500 and it was gazetted in 1916.^[1]

A prospector, Dan Baker is creditted with the initial gold discovery. Two mines were in production in 1900 named Lady Margaret and Long tunnel.^[2] More mines opened later including Sand Queen and Happy Jack both of which continued to operate after World War I. A police station had been established in the town and was destroyed in 1916. A coach service used to service the town coming from Goongarrie and continuing to the Ularring district.

References

1. ^ Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names". http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+country+town+names. Retrieved 2011-02-15. 
2. ^ "Morowa Historical Society". 2009. http://members.westnet.com.au/caladenia/ghosttowns/G.pdf. Retrieved 2011-02-15.