It purchased two smaller mining companies and thereby acquired a process plant and work force in Kalgoorlie but found it impractical to transport the ore from Laverton to there.

A second nickel discovery in the area, at South Windarra, was made by an American consortium, which entered in an agreement with Poseidon to develop the two projects jointly.

[2][3][5] The cost to develop the project and associated infrastructure, including roads and a rail link to Kalgoorlie, proved higher than expected at $56 million.

A subsequent flood however prevented Poseidon from transporting the nickel from site and led to the company's financial position deteriorating.

[6][7] WMC was forced to suspend mining at Windarra in 1978 because of low nickel but resumed in May 1981.

In May 1983, WMC acquired Shell's 50 percent interest in the project, for $500,000 per annum for the next 10 years and a production royalty.

[8] In December 2005, Niagara Mining Limited purchased the inactive Windarra Nickel Project from BHP.

[10] The state heritage-listed Windarra Heritage Trail was established from 1996 and opened in 1998, commemorating the history of the mine.