Mount Magnet

• Summary
• Weather for Mount Magnet

Mount Magnet, the oldest surviving gold settlement of the Murchison, is 567km north of Perth on the Great Northern Highway. Mount Magnet is ideally situated for your first overnight stay heading north. There is much to see here, remains of the early Goldrush era, magnificent granite breakaway country and, in season, spectacular carpets of wildflowers.

The town is well serviced by two supermarkets, two roadhouses, three hotels, cafe, butcher, nursing post, post office, plus merchanical and engineering services. Resturants are available in hotels plus cafe and roadhouses. There are hotels, motels, caravan park, backpacker, lodge, and nearby station stay.

Gold was first discovered here in July 1891 and amazingly rich areas around the settlement were found, including Poverty Flats 'where they dug it up like potatoes'. Mount Magnet was proclaimed a township soon after the gold discoveries. The remains of other settlements nearby, such as Lennonville, can still be seen.

The prominent hill rising above the township was first in 1854 by surveyor Robert Austin who named it West Mount Magnet after its magnetic qualities. It has since had its Aboriginal name reinstated - 'Warramboo', meaning campfire-camping place.

The first pastoralists, Watson and Jones, walked their sheep from Geraldton to Mount Magnet in the late 1870's and settled at Yowergabbie and Boogardie stations respectively. The pastoral industry and goldmining still remain the main industries.