Name Of Mine On Which Last Employed
Little wonder GM, Nullagine, Pilbara, Western Australia

Place Of Burial
Nullagine Cemetery, Western Australia

Submitted by
Eric Chamberlain - Volunteer

Cause of Death
Mine Accidents

Other Information
MARBLE BAR.
Thomas Ward, 53 years of age, one of the best-known prospectors in the district, was killed in the Little Wonder mine Nullagine on Monday afternoon. He fell from a ladder at the 70-foot level a distance of 30 feet. His neck was broken. The Little Wonder is some three kilometers east of the Federation mine, bordering both north and south of the Skull Springs Road. Mineralisation trends west-north-west to east-south-east. Some old shafts remain, but have been heavily disturbed by modern exploration and bulldozing. Millennium Minerals opened a pit at the site in 2015 which may have further affected any old workings. Mining ceased within the year, with ore transported 35 kilometers west to its Golden Eagle processing plant.

A passing mention is made to the Brookman's Syndicate as operating the mine in 1899. Farley and White (surnames) purchased the mine in 1900. One source briefly mentions a prospector called Hayes putting through a crushing from the mine the same year.

The mine's glory days were 1902 to 1904. Several rich crushings emanated from the mine including 63 tonnes for 625 ounces, 126 tonnes for 800 ounces. O'Driscoll, Clemmensen, and Barry were the prospectors at the time. They obtained enough money, to purchase a quarter of interest in H. Doherty's Barton mine several kilometers to the west. H. O'Driscoll was back at the mine in 1911. By 1904 the mine had produced 984.5 tonnes of ore for 3763 ounces of gold. Crushings however after this are sporadic, with gold irregular and patchy.

Gibb-Maitland in 1908 states the lease contains two shafts, 120 feet apart, connected at the 76-foot level. It is an irregular reef, lenticular, with rich patches. More systematic mining was needed he states. GML 136.

Tom Ward (53) fell down the shaft 30 feet from the 70-foot level in 1912, breaking his neck, and was instantly killed. His mining mate, John Elliott was working on the surface and noticed he was missing at the end of the day. This effectively ended mining at the location for a number of decades.

Frank Stevens had worked the mine through the 1940s. It is reported in one source he sold the mine in 1949 to Perkins and Tatham (surnames), however, it's noted Frank is still at the mine in the early 1950s. Another source states Tom Collins and Joe Graham were at the mine in 1949. It was also noted by the source the mine was known locally and informally as 'The Little Blunder', indicating its glory days were behind it. However, in February 1951 Frank Stevens fell out of a truck at the mine injuring his back, and had to be flown to Port Hedland by the Flying Doctor service. This appears to have ended Franks's stint at the mine.