Laverton, Western Australia

Laverton is a town in the state of Western Australia. It is in the Goldfields region and is the main town for the Shire of Laverton. The town is at the edge of the Great Victoria Desert.

It is located about 957 kilometers (595 miles) north-northeast of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, and 124 kilometres (77 mi) east-northeast of the town of Leonora, with an elevation of 461 metres (1,512 ft).[1]

Laverton
Western Australia
Laverton
Coordinates28°37′40″S 122°24′11″E / 28.62778°S 122.40306°E / -28.62778; 122.40306
Population407 (UCL 2021)[2]
Established1898
Postcode(s)6440
Elevation461 m (1,512 ft)
Location
  • 957 km (595 mi) NNE of Perth
  • 124 km (77 mi) ENE of Leonora
LGA(s)Shire of Laverton
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
27.3 °C
81 °F
13.2 °C
56 °F
232.5 mm
9.2 in

History

The town was first called "British Flag" after gold was found there in 1896. A doctor named Charles W. Laver helped the town grow, so it was named Laverton in his honor in 1900.

In the past, the town grew because of gold mining. The price of gold dropped, and the town became smaller. But in 1968, nickel was found nearby, which helped the town grow again.

Work

The main industry in Laverton is mining, especially for gold and nickel. There are two large gold mines near the town. The land is also used for raising sheep, cattle, and goats.

Population and climate

About 407 people live in Laverton. Around 20% of the people are of Aboriginal descent. The weather is usually hot and dry. The town gets only a little rain each year. It is very hot in the summer and a little cooler in the winter.

  1. "Bureau of Meteorology - Climate statistics for Laverton". 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Laverton (urban centre and locality)". Australian Census 2021.