APLA was formed in 1904 at a gold-rush site south of Kalgoorlie-Boulder by amalgamating a number of existing prospecting groups into one representative body with the aim to:
" Protect and further the interests of prospectors ".
Now 100 years on we haven't lost sight of the aims of our founders. APLA is a peak industry group in Western Australia and is well recognised nationally as a key player in the prospecting and mining industries.
APLA recognises that prospecting is our heritage and our future.