The discovery of gold at Kalgoorlie in 1893 made a vast difference to Western Australia and to Perth. From being a sleepy agricultural and pastoral state whose main industries were wool and wheat and with a tiny population the state suddenly became a hive of activity and a place of great wealth.
Western Australia's population doubled within a year and the prospectors and miners who arrived from every part of the world were inclined to stay in the State whether they struck it rich or not.
Gold is still important to Western Australia - modern technology and the high price of gold have made it possible to extract gold the early miners ignored. Active goldmines are still to be found throughout the area which begins 600 kilometres east of Perth - a fascinating train ride through wild country.
Search here for more information about the Goldfields region.
KALGOORLIE
Paddy Hannan discovered gold in 1893 in the region, within two years the town of Kalgoorlie was proclaimed. Well worth a visit is the Hannans Tourist Mine, where you can experience underground mining. The Golden Mile Museum has some wonderful exhibits, including a treasure room. The Super Pit is being mined at present - it is a huge open cut mine, and is definately worth viewing. Diane Gilmore
The gold rush town Kalgoorlie, queen of the Golden Mile, is the centre of the State's gold mining industry. Within a week of Paddy Hannan discovering gold in 1893 there were 1,400 prospectors on the scene.
Initially hundreds died of typhoid and progress was strangled due to the lack of water until the engineering genius of C.Y. O'Connor overcame the problem by damming the Helena River at Mundaring (in the hills above Perth) and pumping the water 560 kilometres to Kalgoorlie.
Although Kalgoorlie's fortunes still largely ebb and flow and are dependent on the price of gold, the town has broadened its base with the growth of the nickel industry and the pastoral development of the area. A visit to the Hannans North Tourist Mine and the Golden Mile Museum provides a vivid picture of how the early miners worked.
There are feral rabbits, foxes, wild goats, as well as dingoes, kangaroo and emus. You might catch a glimpse of a large racehorse goanna - looking like a fairytale dragon. Several varieties of the eagle family frequent the region along with a multitude of parrots and cockatoos. There are also crested pigeons, crows, mallee fowl and the Australian bustard. If you heard a particularly melodious bird song, it is probably the Pied Butcher bird.
Keep your eyes peeled for the sixty species of eucalyptus growing in the region, including many flowering varieties. Look out for the pale grey-green leaves of the famous sandalwood tree - it is not uncommon. The most vibrant of the wildflowers is the dramatic red and black Stuart Desert Pea. You'll also see Hakeas, Callistemons, the brilliant Red Bottle Brush, the Hop Bush and the native Hibiscus. In spring the fluffy, yellow blossoms of the Wattle add colourful touches to the landscape.
COOLGARDIE
The Ghost Town
The old gold-mining town of Coolgardie is one of the best-known ghost towns in Australia or possibly the world. Alluvial gold was discovered in 1892 and Coolgardie grew from nothing to a booming town of 15,000 people, 23 hotels, 6 banks and 2 stock exchanges in just 10 years.
Gold was discovered here in 1892. There are some wonderful old buildings to be seen in this "almost" ghost town. The main street was wide enough for camel trains to turn, splendid public buildings were erected and ambitious plans were made for the future. Sadly, the gold soon petered out, and in 1985 there were only 700 people in the town; however today there is a wave of confidence emerging and the population is increasing.
Many of the old buildings are gone without trace, but there is still plenty left to recall the gold-boom days, and Coolgardie remains an important tourist attraction.
NORSEMAN
The town named after a horse!
Norseman "the Eastern gate to the Western State" is a major stopping point for travellers to and from the Eastern States and is the ideal place to break your journey.
Gold, the magic metal, put Norseman on the map in 1894 when prospector Laurie Sinclair stopped off to visit his brother on his way to Esperance. He tethered his horse "Hardy Norseman" overnight and in the morning was amazed to discover that it had pawed up a gold nugget. A rich gold reef was discovered on the already proclaimed Dundas Field and thousands flocked to make their fortune.
Today gold remains of major importance to Norseman which still has a population of some 1,800 people, most of whom still depend on the mining industry. Central Norseman still mines the richest quartz reef in Australia and the historic hayburner "Hardy Norseman" has not been forgotten as there is now a striking statue erected in his honour.
The Historical Collection housed in the old School of Mines reflects on days gone by. A trip down the Heritage Trail will give you an insight into the life of the mining community's past and present.
