The Homestead Leases, or more correctly Miners Homestead Leases (MHL), were issued under the mining laws of the time – until the demise of the 1904 Mining Act in 1982. These laws allowed bonafide miners/prospectors who held a Gold Mining Lease (GML) in the area to apply for suitable land (mostly away from their workings) to live on and take water and timber etc. More information on these leases can be found by viewing the regulations of the 1904 Mining Act at the WA Battye Library.
Assuming a MHL has been issued under the mining laws a search of the lease would be able to be undertaken using its current number. For example, MHL 109 shows that this lease was live from 1907 to 1918 and located towards the old Lakewood townsite and a mile east of the Boulder Cemetery. It appears the average size for each lease was about 20 acres. A successful search will probably show who owned the lease and whether it was transferred etc. It may also show which GML it was connected to.
From the 1903 Mines Dept Annual Report:-
The number of Miners’ Homestead Leases in force during the year was 180, or more than treble the number in force during the previous year, with an increase in acreage of 10,480, thus showing the increased favour with which these holdings are looked upon. It is satisfactory to know also that the great majority of the lessees have complied with the conditions as to improvements. Of the various goldfields in which Miners’ Homestead Leases have been taken up Coolgardie heads the list with 35, with an area of 859 acres; then follows Murchison with 26 leases and an area of 382 acres; then Phillips River, with 27 leases, totaling 2,413 acres.
From the State Government Gazzette for 1943 (as an example). First is the MHL number followed by the lease name then the leaseholder’s name:-
DUNDAS (Norseman)
68 LAKE SIDE: Stanley QUNILIVAN
74 BURNLEY: William George BRYANT
76 NULLARBOR: Edgar PAVY
80 COWAN: Alfred Fontean BENNETTS
82 LAKE VIEW: Catherine May STEIN
84 BRAESIDE: Robert Malcolm ALEXANDER
90 WOODLEY: Ethel HILL
East Coolgardie:-
247 EOXENDALE: William Henry & Annie Elizabeth HORAN
253E HILLSIDE: Charles William LAMING
266E HEHIRS FARM: Butcher, Robert MURRAY
268E JACK HEHIRS FARM: Butcher, James MANSOIL
279E HAPPY ACRES FARM: Esme Irene LAMING
284E COLDEN VALLEY: William Thomas TRYTHALI
286E NINGAWALLA: Wagland, Kenneth Rupert WAGLAND
Wiluna
13J ZONNEBEKE HOMESTEAD Santina Ernesto SANTINA
I 7J MORRI5SEYS HOMESTEAD: Adehine Mary HAYES
19J PICTON: James; HAYES
23J BIG CHANCE: Jose MIOCEVIEH
27J BUTCHERS BLOCK: Adeline Mary HAYES
31J BEDAN: Stehla Kathlee KIRWAN
33J CLAYPANS GARDEN: Joseph COOPER
35J VIOLET ABBATIORS: The Lake Violet Pastoral Company Proprietary, Limited.
41J RONDIN FARM: Thomas Herbert HAYLEN
44J FAIRVIEW: Michael O’CONNOR
55J LOMBARDI: Raina, Charles, Lania & Charles SERNIO:
65J MILLROSE: Nicholas Raueit WARD
66J CHURCHILL FARM. Albert Laurence GEIICK
67J BETTERVIEW: Michael O’CONNOR
Mt Margaret (Leonora)
46T THE HOMESTEAD: Leonard Joseph FISHER
Black Range (near Sandstone)
360 VICTOR: Gwalia Co-operative Butchering Society, Limited.
380 CARDINIA: James Johnstone ROBINSON
390 MELROSE: George Norman ROBERTSON
Murchison
DOMUS: Triton Gold Mines, No Liability.
12SILUS: Triton Gold Mines, No Liability.
Mt Magnet
13 MYARD: James MYARD
Meekatharra
59N GLENGARRY: Alexander Vincent McDonald
61N H.A.C. Charles George ROBERTS
62N PEPPERS: Elsie Ada WESTERN
Yilgarn
91-92 VIEW HILL POULTRY FARM: Margaret Jean ROBERTSON
102 MOUNTAIN MAID: Arthur MAYNARD
111 GLANYRAFON: Stephen MOUNT, & Thomas COOPER
112 DORORIC: Hilda May COOKE
116 WOODLARK: James WORTON
117 CHARLESVILLE: George Charles WEST
You can search the Gazettes here: Government Gazettes
Some information supplied by Scott Wilson research by John Pritchard with thanks
Moya Sharp
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