 Although production totals paled in comparison with fields such as the Palmer, within the next few years the erection of batteries and a cyanide works at Coen gave the northern Peninsula a permanent base for prospecting expeditions.Gold was found on the Starcke River in 1890, at Batavia (Wenlock) in 1892, Ebagoola in 1899 and Potallah in 1902.Following William Baird's discovery of gold at Retreat Creek in 1892, a 2 area around the camp of Bairdsville was proclaimed as the Batavia Goldfield.