Amalgamated Prospectors and Leaseholders Association (APLA)

The Amalgamated Prospectors and Leaseholders Association of WA (APLA) is a long-established industry organisation representing prospectors and leaseholders throughout Western Australia. Formed in 1904, the association grew from a tradition of grassroots prospecting advocacy dating back to the 1880s, when miners and prospectors worked together to protect their rights and influence mining legislation.

For more than a century, APLA has provided a collective voice for Western Australia’s prospecting community through periods of gold rush activity, economic change and advances in mining and prospecting technology. The association continues to advocate for legislation, policies and land access arrangements that recognise the needs of individual prospectors and small-scale operators.

A key focus of APLA is maintaining fair and practical access to land for responsible prospecting. The organisation represents its members in discussions with government, regulators and industry stakeholders while working to ensure that prospectors have an opportunity to contribute to decisions affecting their activities and livelihoods.

APLA also works to preserve Western Australia’s rich prospecting heritage while supporting the future of recreational and small-scale prospecting. With members located across the state, the association remains an important link between prospectors, government and the wider mining industry.

Through advocacy, representation and a commitment to responsible prospecting, APLA continues its longstanding mission of ensuring the voice of Western Australian prospectors is heard and their contribution to the state’s mining heritage is recognised.