Kalgoorlie Attractions | Tourism
Kalgoorlie is an outback city of unique historical
importance to not only Western Australia but to Australia as a whole. The
rich history of this gold mining region been preserved for visitors to enjoy at numerous local
attractions, however a great place to get to know Kalgoorlie is in the city centre where examples of Kalgoorlie’s
colonial past can be viewed by simply strolling through the streets and viewing the miner’s cottages and grander
buildings, such as the Town Hall.
The ‘pub’ is of huge historical impo rtance to this area. During the Gold rush days
Kalgoorlie boasted 93 hotels and 8 breweries. Today the ‘pub’ is
still a significant landmark in Kalgoorlie and you will find one on almost every corner, including possibly
Australia’s most photographed pub; The Exchange Hotel.
As well as being pleasant places to spend a few hours on a
warm day several of Kalgoorlie’s pubs are important examples of
historical architecture and home to memorabilia dating back to Gold Rush times. You are also sure to find a
character or two at one of the local watering holes and most are only too willing to share their story with
you.
Whilst Kalgoorlie itself is surrounded by stretches of
desert, the city is a hub of vibrant activity. It is also home to a wealth of interesting things to do and see
including visiting the Flying Doctors Visitor Centre and don’t forget to stop by at least
one of many the cafes, restaurants and nightclubs.
A must do on your trip to Kalgoorlie is a visit to the
Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame which is located 7km
north of Kalgoorlie. The Hall of Fame is a great way to find out more about the past, present
and future of mining for gold in Australia. Your entry fee includes an underground tour of old mine shafts at
Hannans North Tourist mine and you just may strike it rich whilst panning for gold on the
tour.
You also need to pay a visit to the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie, its a huge open pit mine and only a 3 minute drive to the lookout
from central Kalgoorlie. Its' rich in history and also very lively with 4 huge 10 million dollar diggers in
the pit and 20 of the biggest dump trucks operating in it.
The Superpit lookout is free to visit but please note they
normally have a daily blast and which the lookout is closed for safety reasons. Head to Kalgoorlie's Visitor Center for the daily blast time as they
are notified on a daily basis from KCGM/Super Pit.
The size of the Super Pit is 3km by
4km and 700 metres deep, is one big eye opener that you don't want to miss out on.
Whilst Kalgoorlie itself is full of history it is also an
excellent place to discover more about the history of Western Australia. Start your tour
of discovery at the WA Museum Kalgoorlie-Boulder which is located at 17
Hanna Street, Kalgoorlie. Open everyday apart from Christmas Day and Good Friday, the museum was established in
1891 and today is home to more than two and a half million specimens and artefacts of significance to
Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Western Australia.
Not only does Kalgoorlie have a
rich gold mining history, it is also traditional Aboriginal land and home to the Maduwangka people. The
name ‘Kalgoorlie’ is an Indigenous word for the ‘Silky Pear Bush’, a native species common to the area.
Exploring the Indigenous culture is another must do when visiting Kalgoorlie. The local galleries are an ideal
place to start and feature art works by the local Indigenous people and goldfields art, which make great
souvenirs of your visit to Kalgoorlie.
To view artwork by local artists you must visit the
Goldfields Arts Centre in Cheetham Street and the Goldfields Aboriginal Art
Gallery in Dugan Street. The Desert Art Gallery also displays local artwork and also
regularly features the work of artists in residence and local and international award winning
artists.
Any time of year is a great
time to visit Kalgoorlie but locals will tell you that the best time to visit is in September when
the famous Boulder to Kalgoorlie Cup (a week long horse racing event) attracts visitors from near
and far. The population of the town swells at this time of year and if you are looking for fun this is the place to
be. The race is as much a tradition of the town as Gold mining so it is certainly something to put on your
itinerary if you are heading to Kalgoorlie in September.
Kalgoorlie is a warm and
welcoming place to visit with plenty of options when it comes to places to stay and things to do. If you are
looking to have a holiday with a difference make sure you visit Kalgoorlie.
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