PERTH, Western Australia, Dec. 11, 2025 /CNW/ - Westgold Resources Limited (ASX: WGX) (TSX: WGX) (Westgold or the Company) confirms it has successfully fired the first high-grade stope at its iconic Great Fingall Mine – now accessing virgin areas of the famous gold reef last mined more than a century ago.

Located near the town of Cue in Western Australia, the Great Fingall mine produced an astonishing 1.2Moz of gold between 1891 and 1918 − from just 1.9Mt of ore, notably without the benefit of modern mining technology.

At steady state production from 2027, Great Fingall will deliver ~0.5Mtpa of high-grade ore to Westgold's Cue processing hub, supplementing ore feed from its nearby +1Mtpa Big Bell mine.

Highlights

• Reef mining has recommenced at the historically significant Great Fingall Mine near Cue.
• First stope firing delivered grades averaging between 3-4 g/t Au.
• Great Fingall high-grade ore to boost production at Cue processing hub - complementing Big Bell's volume contribution.
• Ramp-up underway toward steady-state production of ≈ 40ktpm from Great Fingall and Golden Crown by late FY27.
• Underground drilling continues - targeting mine life extensions and new targets beyond the current six-year plan.

Westgold Managing Director and CEO Wayne Bramwell commented:

"The recommencement of stoping at Great Fingall is a proud achievement for all at Westgold and the Western Australian underground mining community.

This historic mine, which produced over 1.2 million ounces of gold at outstanding grades in the early 1900s, has now been revitalised as a modern, high-grade operation through our strategic investment in the Murchison portfolio. The high-grade output from Great Fingall will complement the volume from Big Bell, strengthening our operations and creating lasting value for our shareholders."

First production from virgin stopes at Great Fingall

Westgold is pleased to advise that mining of the first virgin stopes at the Great Fingall underground mine near Cue, Western Australia, has commenced. This achievement aligns with the Company's FY26 guidance, which anticipated first ore from higher-grade stopes in Q2 FY26.

Gold grades from initial stopes are in line with expectations, averaging over 3g/t. This milestone represents the transition from development to production at Great Fingall, a cornerstone asset within Westgold's Murchison operations.

The Great Fingall mine is forecast to ramp up steadily through FY26 toward a combined steady-state production rate of approximately 40,000t per month by late FY27. Ore from Great Fingall will provide high-grade feed to the Cue processing hub, complementing Big Bell's contribution of bulk tonnage and underpinning improved operating margins.

Westgold continues to drill the lower open extents of the multiple lodes at Great Fingall from underground, targeting extensions to the current six-year mine life. The mine is supported by high-quality infrastructure and operated under a three-year underground mining contract with Barminco.

Great Fingall – An iconic mine of historical significance

The Great Fingall and Golden Crown mines are two of Western Australia's most storied gold producers.

Historically operated as separate mines, they collectively contributed significantly to the Day Dawn goldfield's reputation as one of the richest in the Murchison region. Great Fingall alone produced more than 1.2Moz at an average grade of 19.5 g/t between 1891 and 1918, while Golden Crown added further ounces at similarly high grades, including 288koz from 648kt at 13.8g/t Au during its underground campaigns.

Westgold is now reviving these iconic assets as a single integrated operation accessed via one modern underground portal. This approach maximises efficiency and unlocks the remaining high-grade potential of both deposits, extending their legacy.

This announcement is authorised for release to the ASX by the Board.

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SOURCE Westgold Resources Limited