At approximately 5 pm on 26 June 2000 at Bronzewing mine, 400 km from Kalgoorlie, three men died when a structural wall collapsed and engulfed them in material backfill.

The deaths were caused by inhalation of the backfill, which consisted of 18,000 cubic meters of sand-slurry, sludge, mud and rock. Eight workmen escaped.

An inquiry by the State Coroner found that the backfill material had been inadequately drained and had subsequently caused the wall to break.