We set off early and within 30mins we were set up in the Kalgoorlie Boulder free 24hr RV parking area. 
Anticipating a busy day we decided on a egg and bacon sandwich before heading to the Information centre. We were keen to do a Super Pit tour to only be told it had been cancelled due to unknown circumstances until late July! This fairly new (1989) amalgamated town is Australia’s largest outback city and one of the most famous gold mining centres on the planet. You wouldn’t believe that it all started with 3 Irishmen who in 1893 managed to find 100 ounces of alluvial nuggets. The towns grew quickly and there is still evidence of the gold rush architecture especially the Town Halls and the hotels. We were welcomed into the Kalgoorlie town hall.
Mark recognised some of the sporting champions that originated from here.
Mark used to play at his snooker hall in Melbourne
It also houses the original statue of Patrick Hannan.
Then we walked up and down the historic Hannan Street admiring some of the historic buildings.
The tour of the Boulder Town Hall ($5ea) was highly recommended so we ventured to the Burt Street heritage precinct. Unfortunately in 2010, a 5.0 magnitude earthquake badly damaged numerous buildings. The Metropole Hotel is no longer open for business. It is said that there was once an underground tunnel linking the pub to the mine so that the miners could grab a quick drink!
Our guide Timothy from the ‘Peter Pan’ house in Coolgardie, was very entertaining and informative. The beautifully preserved historic hall had originally painted pressed ceilings from 1908. The stage curtain is a painted in ‘trompe euille’ style by one of the Victorian era’s greatest artist, Phillip Goatcher. It is the worlds largest surviving example of his works and is priceless.
Anticipating a busy day we decided on a egg and bacon sandwich before heading to the Information centre. We were keen to do a Super Pit tour to only be told it had been cancelled due to unknown circumstances until late July! This fairly new (1989) amalgamated town is Australia’s largest outback city and one of the most famous gold mining centres on the planet. You wouldn’t believe that it all started with 3 Irishmen who in 1893 managed to find 100 ounces of alluvial nuggets. The towns grew quickly and there is still evidence of the gold rush architecture especially the Town Halls and the hotels. We were welcomed into the Kalgoorlie town hall.
Mark recognised some of the sporting champions that originated from here.
It also houses the original statue of Patrick Hannan.
Then we walked up and down the historic Hannan Street admiring some of the historic buildings.
The tour of the Boulder Town Hall ($5ea) was highly recommended so we ventured to the Burt Street heritage precinct. Unfortunately in 2010, a 5.0 magnitude earthquake badly damaged numerous buildings. The Metropole Hotel is no longer open for business. It is said that there was once an underground tunnel linking the pub to the mine so that the miners could grab a quick drink!
Our guide Timothy from the ‘Peter Pan’ house in Coolgardie, was very entertaining and informative. The beautifully preserved historic hall had originally painted pressed ceilings from 1908. The stage curtain is a painted in ‘trompe euille’ style by one of the Victorian era’s greatest artist, Phillip Goatcher. It is the worlds largest surviving example of his works and is priceless.
We were shown backstage with some early 1800’s graffiti on the change room walls.
We then drove by possibly one of the world’s oldest working brothels (built in 1920’s and 120years) the Questa Casa, also known as the ‘Pink House’.
Next we went to the free ‘Museum of the Goldfields’.
We saw the largest display of gold bars and nuggets in the Vault.
We headed up to the top of the Ivanhoe Headframe which stands at 39m.
Outside we visited an authentic miner’s cottage giving an insight on their living conditions.
We found out about De Bernales, a successful mining entrepreneur who was known to have the Midas Touch.
The British Arms Hotel built in 1899 is believed to be the narrowest pub in the Southern Hemisphere!
We then read about the history of the Goldfields with some quirky displays.
Mt Charlotte lookout is the site where the original 563km goldfields pipeline ended from Mundaring Weir in 1902.
After a food shop and a recoup we went to the Super Pit lookout. It is the 2nd second largest working gold mine in the Southern Hemisphere at 3.5km long, 1.5km wide and 600m deep. We watched the mammoth mining trucks haul 85 million tonnes of rock to produce 800,000 ounces of gold per year. We were lucky to watch them blast a section.
We then had a read about the mine.
And admired the moon…
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