Ravensthorpe - Located 530km south of Perth. Ravensthorpe is a small sheep and wheat town, which started life as a gold and copper mining town. The area is again experiencing mining activity with nickel and gold mining projects being developed.

At the end of the century the gold mania which had seen the rise of towns like Kalgoorlie had reached fever pitch. In 1898 Jim Dunn (one of John Dunn's brothers) found gold on the 'Cocanarup' property. Overnight prospectors poured into the area and the Phillips River Goldfield was established. As with all gold towns the development of Ravensthorpe was hysterical. In 1900 the town was surveyed (it was gazetted the following year) and the population had grown to 500. The Dunn brothers, who had started the rush which had produced the town, were eager to capitalise on their increased fortunes. When land in the new town was offered for sale in 1901 they purchased two lots in the main street and built the Miners Arms Hotel and a General Store.

Prior to World War I the town continued to grow and by 1909 the population had reached 3000. By 1918 the smelter and the mines had closed and most of the prospectors had moved away. The mines continued to operate; depending on the price of copper, until the 1970s but the town never regained the vigour it enjoyed prior to World War I. The current nickel mining activity in the Ravensthorpe has attracted many new residents to the area.

Major Mining Projects currently operating within the Shire of Ravensthorpe.

Kundip: Tectonic Resourses Gold operation

Bandalup Hill: Ravensthorpe Nickel operations, BHP BIlliton