Big Bell’s Big Hotel
Less than half an hours drive from Cue (600km north of Perth) you will find the remains of the Big Bell townsite. Built to service the mine of the same name, it was a highly advanced town for the 1930s considering it was in the Murchison. The amount of water available thanks to government wells enabled tree lined streets, with most households even having lawns. There were plenty of amenities including a railway connection, a theatre, golf, an Olympic sized swimming pool and a range of shops.
What interests me, however, is the massive hotel that was situated in the middle of town. This included hot and cold water in every room (a rarity at the time, even in Perth), lockable garages and the longest bar in Australia… if urban legends are to be believed.
The town basically closed over night when the mine closed in the 1950s, however. Most of the town (and buildings) packed up and moved on, but the hotel remained. I’ve always wanted to visit, so lets strap on some boots, hop in the Kia (RIP) and see what the go is, while delving deep into the history that was Big Bell.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bell,_Western_Australia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bell_Gold_Mine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longest_bar_in_Australia
https://www.australiasgoldenoutback.com/products/big-bell-ghost-town
https://www.cue.wa.gov.au/big-bell-townsite.aspx
https://www.australiantraveller.com/wa/ghost-towns-in-wa/
https://outbackfamilyhistory.com.au/records/record.php?record_id=779&town=Big%20Bell
https://www.cue.wa.gov.au/railway-platform-and-station.aspx
https://inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/d38c2341-15fc-46f2-8c92-10433cfa9bfa
State Library:
Newspapers:
26th Sep 1936
Illustration of the to be built pub
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/3704540
28th March 1940
Lots of photos of the mine and pub
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38412844?searchTerm=%22big%20bell%22
1st Dec 1948
Photos of the convent and school
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/28476161
17 feb 1954
Town revolts against price of beer going up
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/1766395
Images Used:
1953 survey map
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b1859745_
LOTS of photos. Needs sorting
https://encore.slwa.wa.gov.au/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3079491?lang=eng
A good photo of the mines entry, 1930s?
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079480_21
Mine in the 50s
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079480_28
Swimming pool and tennis courts
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079487_4
State housing being built
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079487_22
State housing complete
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079487_23
Big Bell school
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079 492_1
Covenant school
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079492_25
Hotel under construction (there’s more in this gallery)
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079491_6
GREAT photo of the pub in operation
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079491_12
The bar
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079491_13
Shops
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079491_15
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079491_27
Palais Theatre. Inside and out
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079491_20
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079491_21
Train’o
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079491_22
Overview of town
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3079491_28
Wide shot of pub and train station
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2279905_20
Overview of horrocks in 1963
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b4890866_1
Big Bell 1980
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b2463093_1
Mine under construction 1988
https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b5567665_4
Underground mine
