Kalgoorlie-Boulder view from lookout

Kalgoorlie-Boulder WA 6430 (Pop 33 000)

Kalgoorlie-Boulder is one of Australia’s most important and renowned goldmining cities located 594 km east of Perth. Original inhabitants, the Wangai named the area Karlkurla meaning ‘place of silky pears’. When gold nuggets were discovered in 1893 by Paddy Hannon, major goldrushes ensued to the ‘richest goldfield in the world’. Lack of water threatened the early settlement originally known as Hannan’s Find, until a pipeline was built from Perth in 1903. Neighbouring Boulder and Kalgoorlie merged in 1989 and became the main commercial centre of the Goldfields region. Today there are still about 50 mines operating, including the immense Super Pit. Nickel, copper, silver and granite are also of industrial importance. Boulder market 3^rd Sun each month. Undies 500 Car Rally (Feb), Rhythms in the Outback Festival (May), Diggers and Dealers Mining Conference (Aug), Goldfield Mining Expo (Oct), Back to Boulder Festival (Oct), Boulder Blues Festival (Nov).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Historic Kalgoorlie-Boulder includes the Post Office (1896), Palace Hotel (1897), York Hotel (1900), Kalgoorlie Town Hall (1908). WA Museum, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Hannan St offers panoramic city views and excellent historic mining displays, memorabilia and artifacts including the first gold bar minted in Kalgoorlie, nuggets and gold coins. The sandalwood camp has a miner’s cottage, first WA bank and other interesting buildings. Open (10am-4.30pm) daily. School of Mines Rock and Mineral Museum, Egan St small, but diversely interesting museum. Open (8.30am-12noon) weekdays. British Arms Hotel, Outbridge Tce narrowest hotel in the Southern Hemisphere. Statue of Paddy Hannan, Hannan St commemorates the first man to discover gold in the area. Super-Pit Lookout, Goldfields Hwy one of the world’s largest open-cut mines operating 24 hrs a day. Lookout open (7am-9pm). Mt Charlotte Reservoir & Lookout stores the water piped from Perth by way of the 563 km pipeline (1903) and affords great city views. Goldfields War Museum, Burt St displays tanks, artillery and other war memorabilia. Open (10am-2pm) Mon-Fri and (9am-1pm) weekends & public holidays. WMC Nickel Pots, Goldfields Hwy where you can have your photo taken within one of these enormous nickel pots and learn about the area’s local nickel history on the interpretative panels. Karlkurla Bush Walk, Riverinna Way 4 km scenic walking trail of diverse native flora & fauna and a lookout with city and nearby mining area views. Boulder Pharmacy Museum, Burt St (1900) now a pharmaceutical museum of great interest.

Nearby:
Kalgoorlie Arboretum (3 km n-w) 26 ha natural museum of numerous walking trails, native flora & fauna and good recreational facilities. Bush Two-Up School (8 km east) old corrugated iron building and bush ring which was Australia’s only legal gambling den. Kanowna Belle Goldmines Lookouts (20 km east) these two lookouts  over previous mining operations are open (7am-5pm) daily and wander through Kanowna, an abandoned goldmining town. Rowles Lagoon (80 km n-w) ideal for camping, watersports, bushwalking and birdwatching. The Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail follows the 563 km pipeline path to Perth. Golden Quest Discovery Trail explores the 965 km of the 1890s goldrushes. 

Accommodation:
Kalgoorlie has 7 motels, 10 hotels, holiday apartments, 4 caravan parks and backpackers. Visitor Information Centre: 250 Hannon St. Tel (08) 9093 1083 or (08) 9021 1966 or 1800 004 653.

Airport:
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport (KGI) Tel (08) 9093 3436. (7 km south).

Hospital:
Kalgoorlie Hospital, Piccadilly Street, Kalgoorlie. Tel (08) 9080 5888.