Coolgardie and Kambalda

About

Over 3,600 people live in the Shire and enjoy a relaxed lifestyle complemented by a stunning natural environment. The Shire includes the towns of Coolgardie, Kambalda, Widgiemooltha and the Aboriginal community of Kurrawang.

Coolgardie

Coolgardie was founded in 1892 with the discovery of gold, and by 1898 was Western Australia’s third largest town with a population of over 15,000 residents.

The town’s name is thought to be derived from the Aboriginal name ‘Kurl-Kurti’, referring to a type of Mulga tree found growing near a local waterhole.

The 1,200 residents who now call Coolgardie home relish life in the Goldfields, with the wide main street still lined with the architecturally significant heritage buildings from the goldrush era.

Coolgardie is also the starting point for those driving the Golden Quest Discovery Trail, a self-drive adventure through the goldfields region of Western Australia.

Kambalda

Kambalda was founded in 1897 as a gold mining town during the great gold rush. In the 1960’s, Kambalda’s township came alive, when one of the world’s largest nickel sulphide deposits was discovered in the area and Australia’s first nickel mine was opened. Today, gold and nickel mining are still major industries in Kambalda.

The town hosts a population of over 2,500 residents who enjoy the diverse flora and fauna that surrounds Lake Lefroy, a 40km salt pan lake, and the Red Hill lookout that provides a spectacular view across the lake, against a backdrop of an expansive bushland.