Sights in Southern Outback
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Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder
The impressive Ivanhoe-mine head frame marks the entrance to this excellent social-history museum. A lift takes you to the top, where you can peer out over the city and mines. In case you forget the reason all of this exists, an underground vault displays giant nuggets and gold bars. There's also a fantastic collection of trade-union banners and relocated historic buildings, including a miner's cottage and mobile police station (attached to a train). Half-hour guided tours start at 11am.
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Gwalia Historic Site
Just 4km southwest of town, Gwalia Historic Site was occupied in 1896 and deserted pretty much overnight in 1963, after the pit closed. With houses and household goods disintegrating intact, it’s a strange, eerie, fascinating ghost town. There’s a museum with more weird and wonderful stuff in it than we’ve ever seen. Hoover House – the 1898 mine manager’s house, named for Gwalia’s first mine manager, Herbert Hoover, who later became the 31st president of the United States – is beautifully restored, and you can B&B here in one of its three exquisite bedrooms (rooms $145).
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Mining Hall of Fame
Located on the site of Paddy Hannan's original lease and a working mine until 1952, the Mining Hall of Fame explores the industry from the underground up. You can go down a mine shaft (and see why claustrophobics don't make good miners), pan for gold and be mesmerised by a gold pour (adult/child $30/20; $20/15 if you stay above ground). The Pitch Black tour goes deeper (adult/child $60/40), while Under & Over ($140) includes a helicopter ride over the Super Pit.
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Outback Way
The unsealed Great Central Rd – also known as the Outback Way – provides rich scenery of red sand, spinifex, mulga and desert oak. It links Laverton with Winton in central Queensland, via the red centre of the Northern Territory. From Laverton it is a mere 1098km to Yulara, 1541km to Alice Springs and 2720km to Winton!
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Loopline Railway Museum
The Loopline railway was once the most important urban transport for Kalgoorlie and Boulder, and Boulder’s Golden Mile station (1897) once the busiest in WA. Its story is told in the Loopline railway museum, operating out of the old train station.
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Super Pit Lookout
The view from the Super Pit Lookout, just off the Goldfields Hwy in Boulder, is staggering, with building-sized trucks zigzagging up and down the huge hole and looking like kids’ toys. Good info is given in the on-site signs.
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Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre
See how the flying doctors look after the outback with the hourly tours at the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre. Be generous with your donation if you can; it does a fabulous job.
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Tjulyuru Cultural & Civic Centre
At Warburton take time to visit the Tjulyuru Cultural & Civic Centre, near the roadhouse; the art gallery contains an extensive collection of Warburton Aboriginal paintings.
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Goldfields Arts Centre
Hosts interesting exhibitions by local, state and national artists.
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School of Mines Mineral Museum
Has a geology display including replicas of big nuggets discovered in the area.
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Goldfields War Museum
The Goldfields War Museum has a collection of local war memorabilia and military vehicles.
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Super Pit
The view is staggering, with building-sized trucks zigzagging up and down the huge hole and looking like kids' toys. It's quite beautiful in its own way, with nature's palate of red, black and grey revealed on the exposed rock faces. The information displays are fascinating. Boulder's Super Pit Shop has more displays and sells small nuggets.
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Royal Flying Doctor Service
See how the flying doctors look after the outback, with tours at 10.15am, noon and 2pm.
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Karlkurla Park
Get out on the red dirt in this regenerated bushland on the north-western edge of town and enjoy the 4km of walking trails.
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Kalgoorlie Arboretum
Twenty-six hectares of DEC-managed parkland set around a lake, with 50 native tree species and information panels.
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Hannan St
The city's main drag, Hannan St has retained many of its original gold rush–era buildings, including several grand hotels and the imposing town hall. Outside is a drinking fountain in the form of a statue of Paddy Hannan holding a water bag. Pick up audio-tour equipment from the visitor centre for an itinerary and commentary .
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Hammond Park
A good spot for kids, with playgrounds, aviaries, kangaroos, emus and a miniature Bavarian castle.
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