Kalgoorlie Goldfields
Golden Outback
Kalgoorlie is best known for its fascinating history of the gold rush, with its old hostiric buildings and ghost towns of the old gold miners in the surrounding area. Ever since Paddy Hannan found gold in this area in 1893, the popularity of this place has grown. Tourists come to this town in order to experience their old western feel of what used to be part of the history of Australia.
Kalgoorlie is approximately 600kms north northeast of Perth and has around 30,000 people living in the town. The town has a large range of accommodation types available and there are many attractions for you to explore in the area.
The best time to go to Kalgoorlie is during September as there are several festivities which many people come for. Kalgoorlie has a large choice of accommodation types, from hotels and motels, to caravan and camping grounds to hostels
Kalgoorlie Attractions
The Super Pit
On the outskirts of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder is The Super Pit, one of the world's biggest open cut mines. This huge hole has been created from harvesting over 50 million ounces of gold. The Super Pit produces around 850,000 ounces of gold every year, thus making it Australia's largest gold producing mine and even one of the world's largest. While it's not possible to enter the pit, you can get a feel for it's enormity from the nearby lookout platform.
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Hannan Street
This street has been named after Paddy Hannan who was responsible for finding gold in this town in 1893. The thriving street is lined with nightclubs, restaurants, cafes, and pubs. It is also home to the Hannan Hotel, Hannan Railway station and the famous Hannan lager.
Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame
Go underground, pan for gold, walk through the historic precinct and immerse yourself in the modern mining industry. Discover the attractions that demonstrate the past, present and future of prospecting and mining in Australia.
Goldfields Highway
Telephone: +61 8 9026 2700
www.mininghall.com
The Goldfields Region
Golden Quest Discovery Trail
The Golden Quest Discovery Trail runs for 965kms through Western Australia's Goldfields from Coolgardie through to Laverton and back to Kalgoorlie. This moderate Top Trail is a true adventure drive which commences approximately seven hours drive east of Perth and travels to 25 interpreted sites highlighting the 1890s gold rush region, classic pubs, outback ghost towns and changing natural landscapes including nature reserves and campsites.
525kms of the track is on unsealed roads and depending on the weather may only be passable in a 4WD vehicle. Allow yourself 3 to 4 days to complete the drive, and ensure you take extra fuel and supplies.
Coolgardie
Coolgardie is located approximately 550kms east of Perth and 40kms west of Kalgoorlie. It is a small town of around 800 people and was founded in 1892 when gold was discovered in the area. At its peak, there were 700 mining companies based in Coolgardie, and in 1898 had a population of 15,000 people, with 10,000 people living in the surrounding area. In the early 1900's the gold began to decrease and by world war 1 the town was in serious decline.
Goldfields Exhibition Museum
The Goldfields Exhibition Museum is housed in the historic and grandiose two storey Wardens Court Building (built 1898) on Bayley Street. Each room features fascinating displays telling the dramatic and tragic story of life in and around Coolgardie during the Goldrush of the 1890's.
Railway Museum
Built in March 1896, the Coolgardie Railway Station is now a museum with a steam locomotive, carriages and other interesting memorabilia on display.
Woodward Street
Telephone: +61 8 9026 6388
Lake Ballard
Just north of Menzies is the salt lake of Lake Ballard. British sculptor Antony Gormley chose Lake Ballard to display his Inside Australia art installation. Based over a 7 square kilometre area of the lake are 51 black abstracted steel figures known as the Gormley Statues. The best time to view the sculptures is sunrise and sunset, and allow at least 2 hours to walk around the installation.
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Loenara
Leonora is located about 240kms north of Kagoorlie and about 830kms northeast of Perth. It is now a main service centre for the mining, exploration and pastoral industry for the region. It has a population of around 1,400 people and is a good place to base yourself to explore the ghost towns of the goldfields. Leonara has many old buildings in the town that are worth looking at while in the town.
Gwalia Museum and Historic Precinct
Gwalia is located around 4kms southwest of Loenara. Here you will find the historic gold mine The Sons of Gwalia which has operated on and off since 1896, along with abandoned cottages, huts and shops of the miners.
Telephone: +61 8 9037 7122
www.gwalia.org.au
Laverton
Laverton is on the western edge of the Great Victoria Desert, about 850kms north northeast of Perth, and about 120kms east northeast of Leonara. With a population of around 300, Laverton is primarily a mining town with two major gold mines in the area.
The Great Beyond Explorers Hall of Fame
Here you can step back in time, listen to the explorers' personal stories of hardship and discover what it was like for the early pioneers living and working on the Goldfields during the Australian gold rush. This innovative centre also houses the Laverton Visitor Centre.
Augusta Street
Telephone: +61 8 9031 1361
Laverton Outback Gallery
Laverton Outback Gallery has an impressive display exhibition of local Indigenous art and artefacts for sale.
Telephone: +61 8 9031 1313
Kalgoorlie Visitor Centre
Hannan Street
(located in the Kalgoorlie Town Hall)
Kalgoorlie
WA, 6433
Telephone: +61 8 9021 1966 or Toll Free: 1800 883 777
www.kalgoorlietourism.com
visitors@kalgoorlie.com
Kalgoorlie Weather - Average Temperatures and Rainfall
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg. Max (°C) | 33.7 | 32.0 | 29.5 | 25.1 | 20.6 | 17.5 | 16.7 | 18.5 | 22.3 | 25.7 | 28.9 | 31.9 |
| Avg. Min (°C) | 18.2 | 17.8 | 16.0 | 12.6 | 8.7 | 6.2 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 8.0 | 11.0 | 14.0 | 16.5 |
| Avg. Rain (mm) | 23.6 | 31.6 | 24.2 | 21.5 | 26.7 | 28.7 | 24.9 | 21.4 | 14.2 | 14.9 | 17.6 | 16.4 |
| Avg. Rain Days | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 5.4 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 8.3 | 7.0 | 5.5 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.7 |