I have a manual EL XR6 with around 110 K's on board.

Recently i have noticed on start up and now while the car is running at normal temp, a squealing type noise from the rear of the engine, in front on the gearbox on the passenger side of the car.

A mate thinks it may be the "throw out bearing" what ever that is...

The noise does not seem to change when the clutch is depressed.....

Has anybody experienced this before and what would be the approx cost?

take the starter motor out, and re-fit it, I've seen them making a screaming kind of sound ..

could also be there that gear on the starter is not sliding back all the way .

yep i once had a bit of a scweeling noise out of front of the tranny couple of weeks and the throw out bearing colapsed ant then it was noisy. the bearing isnt too much probly only a couple of dolars but the labor will cost a bit . if you got the tranny off you migh as well buy clutch kit which comes with a throw out bearing. i dont recomend to do it yourself unless you got the proper gear like a hoist. if i can remember my kit was around $140 + $30 for new tranny fluid. labor cost me nothing because i did it my self at home (NEVER AGAIN!) shop around for a mechanic because my brother who is one sais it is possible to drop a auto tranny out of a ef/el falcon in 12 minuits providing you got the right gear.

Sounds like the throw-out bearing.

auto box is a bit longer than manual coz the cooler lines are a pain sometimes... manual box easily in 20 min once the car was on the hoist... its just tailshaft out (6-8 bolts).. cross member bolts and bellhousing bolts..

and one big islander to catch the box before it hits the deck!

it could also be the spigot bearing seized and grinding on the input shaft. ive seen it happen before you just need to replace the spigot bearing and put a bit of grease in the hole and on the end of the input shaft and it should be right