Coolgardie and Kambalda

Celebrated for the gold and nickel discoveries in Coolgardie and Kambalda, the Shire is rich in mining-era history. The towns feature some of the grandest historical buildings, unique natural assets, and museum collections in the country, all which offer extraordinary tourism experiences.

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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.

Contact Details

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Website: Visit Website
Contact: Shire of Coolgardie
Email: visitors.centre@coolgardie.wa.gov.au
Address: 62 Bayley Street, Coolgardie, Western Australia
Phone: 08 9026 6090
Social Media: Facebook Instagram Tripadvisor

Things to See and Do

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Attraction

Arthouse 65

65 Bayley Street, Coolgardie
Western Australia

Jacqui Mills has managed to combine her two favourite things – art and gardening – and created Arthouse 65, a […]

Type
Arts and Culture

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Attraction

Ben Prior’s Open Air Museum

59 Bayley Street, Coolgardie
Western Australia

Ben Prior Park is a free open-air museum named by its founder Mr Benjamin Austin Prior. Prior came to Coolgardie […]

Type
History and Heritage

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Attraction

Boondi Rock

Wallaroo
Western Australia

Boondi Rock is a water catchment site for the early-settler steam trains. Located about 80km west of Coolgardie, just off […]

Type
Nature and Parks

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Attraction

Burra Rock Conservation Park

Londonderry
Western Australia

Step into the past at Burra Rock, where examples of pioneering ingenuity and rusted relics tell intriguing stories of the […]

Type
History and Heritage
Nature and Parks

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Attraction

Cave Hill Nature Reserve

Victoria Rock
Western Australia

One of the largest and highest granite outcrops in the region, Cave Hill provides an area to explore ancient cave […]

Type
History and Heritage
Nature and Parks

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Attraction

Coolgardie Bluff Walk

45 MacDonald Street, Coolgardie
Western Australia

Bluff Walk includes heritage signage that explains the cultural significance of the area to the local Indigenous people. Located on […]

Type
Indigenous Culture
Trails

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Attraction

Coolgardie Gorge

Coolgardie-Esperance Highway, Karramindie
Western Australia

This gorge was once an important water source to the local population before the completion of the ‘Golden Pipeline’. It […]

Type
History and Heritage
Nature and Parks

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Attraction

Coolgardie Historic Cemeteries

Great Eastern Highway, Coolgardie
Western Australia

Much of Coolgardie’s fascinating history can be read on the headstones of the Coolgardie Cemetery. This second cemetery was opened […]

Type
History and Heritage

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Attraction

Coolgardie Historic Railway Station

75 Woodward Street, Coolgardie
Western Australia

Open on March 23 1896, traffic in the early period included a train each way, each day to and from […]

Type
History and Heritage

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