Cuddingwarra, Western Australia

Cuddingwarra Western Australia
Cuddingwarra
Established:	1895
Postcode:	6640
Elevation:	455 m (1,493 ft)
Location:	665 km (413 mi) NNE of Perth 14 km (9 mi) W of Cue
LGA:	Shire of Cue
State District:	North West
Federal Division:	Durack

Coordinates: 27°22′S 117°47′E / 27.367°S 117.783°E / -27.367; 117.783

Cuddingwarra is an abandoned town in the Mid West region of Western Australia. The town is located between Cue and Big Bell.

Gold was discovered in the area in 1888 with the town being initially known as Dead Finish. The name that was chosen was the name of the nearby Cuddingwarra hill. The hill was first recorded on an application for a pastoral lease submitted by the Lacy brothers in 1878-79. The town was gazetted in 1895.^[1]

By 1898 the town supported a bi-weekly coach service to Cue and the town had its own Post Office. Three hotels were known to exist in the town - The Cuddingwarra Hotel, the Roadside Hotel and the Victory United Hotel.^[2]

The Amphlett and Keating, a mining company, presented samples of gold of considerable value to the Bank of Australia in Perth from there mine in Cuddingwarra in 1895.^[3]

A ten head battery existed in the town in 1898 which was used by the local mining companies such as Cuddingwarra Gold Mines Ltd^[4] and the Siege of Paris mine. The mill was later upgraded to a fifteen head mill when being used to treat ore from the Fraser's South Mine.^[5]

The name is Aboriginal in origin but its meaning is unknown.

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 2011-05-06. 
2. ^ "Morowa Historical Society - Ghosttowns of Western Australia". 2000. http://members.westnet.com.au/caladenia/ghosttowns/C.pdf. Retrieved 2011-05-06. 
3. ^ "THE WEST AUSTRALIAN, CUDDINGWARRA.". Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885-1954) (Perth, WA: National Library of Australia): p. 2. 16 August 1895. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33117233. Retrieved 6 May 2011. 
4. ^ "CUDDINGWARRA GOLD MINES, LTD.". Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896-1916) (WA: National Library of Australia): p. 8. 3 March 1898. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32454278. Retrieved 6 May 2011. 
5. ^ "CUDDINGWARRA.". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839-1900) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia): p. 5. 8 July 1896. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54836886. Retrieved 6 May 2011.