One of Australia’s longest-running mining disputes between the country’s richest woman, Gina Rinehart, and iron ore heiress Angela Bennett is nearing its climax in court.
Billions of dollars hang in the balance as the Western Australian Supreme Court decides whether Ms Rinehart - the well-known owner miner Hancock Prospecting - or fellow billionaire mining magnate Angela Bennett, is entitled to royalties and assets from the lucrative Hope Downs iron ore tenements.
Hope Downs was discovered by Western Australian iron ore pioneers Lang Hancock and Peter Wright in the 1950s - their ventures leaving behind minted mining dynasties.
The families behind those dynasties are now fighting to maintain their stake in Hope Downs as a massive legal clash comes to an end, for now.
Hope Downs was discovered by Western Australian iron ore pioneers Lang Hancock and Peter Wright in the 1950s, whose ventures left behind minted mining dynasties. Picture: Rio Tinto
