Kalgoorlie Boulder, Western Australia

The city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is an amalgamation of two mining towns that literally joined up. The area has a population of about 30,000 people and is approx. 600 kms from Perth. Founded as gold mining locations in 1893 the city is now home to the Super Pit, a huge open cut gold mine which  still finds great quantities of gold using mammoth equipment. 

We heard there was to be a blast at the mine on our first morning so we went to see it. Just a puff of dust was all we saw of the blast but the activity at the mine and the sheer size meant we spent lots of time at the viewing area.

Next stop was the Mount Charlotte Look-out where the end of the Golden Pipeline can be seen, as well as a great view over the city. An excellent display filled in all the details of this world recognized structure, a marvel of engineering.

Some-one didn't read the sign about not drinking the water!

Mount Charlotte was also the place where gold was first found in Kalgoorlie.

There is also a street art trail but we didn't have the brochure so just looked at the art as we came across it. 

With so much driving long walks were both needed and appreciated. The Karlkurla Bushland Park was a gem! Hundreds of photo opportunities. The trees were amazing and the desert shrubs spectacular; even the colour of the earth was breathtaking.

The two night stop at Kalgoorlie also allowed us to re-stock the pantry and get a few essentials, it was cold at night so we bought a little fan heater and windcheater tops.

Then we were on the road again ...

Merredin to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

On the road again and continuing to run beside the pipeline, we came to a display on the second feature of the area. The State Barrier Fence, also known as the Rabbit Proof Fence. The fence no. 1 was commenced in 1901 and ran for 1837 kms from Esperance in the south to Port Hedland in the north.

We took a detour off the highway to Westonia and the Edna May gold mine. The town is an historic remnant but the mine was re-opened as an open pit mine only about ten years ago. 

Back onto the highway where the small town of Southern Cross is kidding itself. Five star indeed! But it did have some beautiful native flowers and a miners' memorial.

Next stop was Coolgardie, famous for starting the West Australian gold rush. There are many beautiful historic buildings with interpretive signs which allow a good stretching of the legs on this long drive.

After lunch near the Coolgardie Cemetery we found the grave of Ernest Giles, the great West & South Australian explorer who covered vast distances in the 1870s.

On we drove to Kalgoorlie where we had a two night break. With only one driver it was essential to give him rest days, and also there is lots to see and do in Kalgoorlie.

Jurien Bay to Merredin, Western Australia

Jurien Bay has a delightful landscaped sea-front promenade with many points of interest - historic plaques, art works, children's games, native flora, an underwater interpretive snorkel & dive trail, picnic areas, bathing sheds and all topped off with great sunsets.

Our route from the Indian Ocean coast took us cross country towards the gold mining town of Kalgoorlie. What we expected to be merely a means to an end proved to be full of interesting places and things to see.

After a morning tea break at Moora we went for a wild flower walk in Candy's Reserve. It was a bit early in the season for wildflowers and being small, they were tricky to photograph.

Along the way there were many photo stops.

Then we arrived at New Norcia, a Benedictine Monastery town founded in 1847. It is a fascinating place with amazing buildings, considering its isolated location, and much history.

Another gem of a town in the Avon Valley, Toodyay, was a late lunch stop for us.

At Northam we joined the Great Eastern Highway and started heading east. We were in the wheat belt of Western Australia, easily identified by the huge expanse of wheat crops and the many wheat silos.
At Northam they have two painted silos as part of the Silo Art Trail. Works by Phlegm and Hense were very unapproachable and access was quite dangerous.

There are two interesting features of this area, one being the Golden Pipeline which takes water from Perth to Kalgoorlie, the pipeline being the first of its type in the world. It was commenced in 1898 and opened in 1903. The pipe is 76 cm / 30 inches in size and runs for 530 kilometres. 
120 years later the pipeline is still vital to life in Kalgoorlie.

The second feature will be in the next blog!

At Merredin there is a silo art work by Kyle Hughes-Odgers depicting life in the wheat belt.

Merredin was our first over-night stop on our long trip across Australia, we had travelled about 450 kms.