We greeted another freezing day with the southerly winds keeping the temperature to 10° or lower. We layered up, put the car heater on and drove out of Westonia to Southern Cross where we fuelled up and continued on Route 94 eastward. The town is set on the edge of both the wheatbelt and the gold fields. Not far out of town we stopped to have a closer look at #6 pumping station (one of the 8) along the pipeline to Kalgoorlie. 
Our next deviation was to Karalee Rock and Dam, that was constructed in the late 1800’s to supply the railway. Where the picnic and camping area now stands was once a railway siding, stone cottages and barracks as well as a hotel to service railway staff and passengers when the engines needed to cool down.
Our next deviation was to Karalee Rock and Dam, that was constructed in the late 1800’s to supply the railway. Where the picnic and camping area now stands was once a railway siding, stone cottages and barracks as well as a hotel to service railway staff and passengers when the engines needed to cool down.
We returned to the highway and stopped further along at the Boorabin Memorial for 3 truck drivers that were killed in the 2007 bushfire. 
We arrived in Coolgardie around noon and set ourselves up at the RV park.
Gold was discovered here in 1892 and at its peak in 1897 it was WA 3rd largest town with 25,000 residents and over 700 mining companies! After some lunch we went to visit the Museum ($4/$2con) that had the usual historical displays
We arrived in Coolgardie around noon and set ourselves up at the RV park.
Gold was discovered here in 1892 and at its peak in 1897 it was WA 3rd largest town with 25,000 residents and over 700 mining companies! After some lunch we went to visit the Museum ($4/$2con) that had the usual historical displays
but also some interesting collections especially the bottles. 
Also an extensive pharmacy display. 
There was also a room dedicated to the rescue of a miner trapped in a flooded underground mine in 1907. We walked through Ben Prior Park which is an open air museum showcasing unique mining and farming equipment.
Lucky we don’t need these anymore…
Old miners huts…
We had a look at a house built by the Bunnings brothers in 1895.
We followed the heritage trail for a bit reading a few of the 65 markers that are scattered through the town.
There was also a room dedicated to the rescue of a miner trapped in a flooded underground mine in 1907. We walked through Ben Prior Park which is an open air museum showcasing unique mining and farming equipment.
We had a look at a house built by the Bunnings brothers in 1895.
We followed the heritage trail for a bit reading a few of the 65 markers that are scattered through the town.
It was interesting to find out the reason for the wide streets was so the camel trains could turn around!
Then it was back to the van and the diesel heater to warm us up…
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