INNER CITY TRAIL

The Inner City Trails project is an exciting initiative being facilitated by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder to develop walking trails in the central areas of both Kalgoorlie and Boulder . Work on the trails commenced in late 2004 with the City’s Local History and Archive staff developing routes for the Trails and gaining the required historical information and photographs to be used for the project.
The Inner City Trails walks will allow tourists and locals to gain insightful information on many of the significant buildings in the central areas of both Kalgoorlie and Boulder .

MINING HALL OF FAME

Prospecting and Mining industry has played a major part in the history of our nation. The industry was initiated within by Aboriginal People prospecting, mining and using minerals long before the landing of the First Fleet in 1788.
Mining Hall of Fame is dedicated to explaining to all Australians just how central our industry is to their continuing well-being.

WAR MUSEUM

The creation of the Goldfields War Museum in the 1970’s was an initiative of prominent Kalgoorlie-Boulder residents with a strong contribution from volunteers.
The war museum includes a reception room with an operating Visitor Information Centre, the 10th Light Horse Room, a main Exhibition Hall and an outdoor exhibition area that houses the museum’s vehicle collection. View this fascinating collection of the Goldfield’s citizens’ wartime involvement in the Boer War, World Wars I and II and the Vietnam War.
See the impressive outdoor display of armoured vehicles including ’Ferret’ Scout Cars, M3 Stuart Tank, British Staghound, Bren Gun Carrier and a 77mm Krupp M96 NA Cannon captured by the Australian 32nd Battalion. The Museum also has on display, artillery, radio equipment, photographs, documents and much more. Children can dress up in camouflage gear and enter in the holiday competitions.

BOULDER TOWN HALL

Beautifully preserved historic hall with pressed tin ceilings, wrought iron balustrades and the priceless Philip Goatcher stage curtain. Built in 1908, it became famous as a host venue for celebrity performers such as Dame Nellie Melba and Eileen Joyce.

PHILIP GOATCHER CURTIN

Enjoy a rare glimpse of one of the world’s last surviving examples of a working Goatcher stage curtain. Philip Goatcher was born in London in 1852 and left school in his early teens to become a law clerk. In his spare time he would visit Sadler’s Wells Theatre and at work would amuse himself by sketching stage art on office pads.
At 14 he was apprenticed to a Liverpool shipping firm and sailed to Melbourne in 1867. There he jumped ship and walked to Ballarat. Philips sketches attracted the attention of John Hemmings, who worked for the Theatre Royal and was recognised as Melbourne ’s leading scene painter. Hemmings predicted a painting future for the young man but Philip had gold fever and moved to and to San Francisco . It was there he met the young JC Williamson. But it was not until he returned to London that he began his new career in earnest. JC Williamson transported him to in 1890 as the highest paid scene painter in the world.

KALGOORLIE TOWN HALL

The Kalgoorlie Town Hall is located on the corner of Hannan Street and Wilson Street, is one of the city’s major tourist landmarks, which is open to the public. The Town Hall is an impressive1908 Edwardian-styled building with intricate stamped metal ceilings, chandeliers, sweeping staircase, theatre, and extensive collection of art and memorabilia.

THE BAY OF NAPLES

The Bay of Naples is believed to be the only surviving theatre curtain by this fine ex ponent of the form in the world. The Boulder curtain depicts a Neapolitan scene with the volcano Vesuvius in the background. This is a recognition perhaps of the number of Italians working in the Eastern Goldfields. It was painted in 1908 as a drop-canvas to complement and close the ’picture frame’ stage at the Town Hall.

SUPER PIT

Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s famous landmark that will eventually stretch 3.8 kilometres long, 1.35km wide and go down to a depth of more than 500m. What had once been the Golden Mile, was named the Fimiston Open Pit, which in turn has become commonly known as the Super Pit.
Where small operations had once controlled the famous Golden Mile, WA businessman Alan Bond started buying up the individual leases to create one big company and one big pit, from which gold could be extracted at far less cost.
Bond's company failed to complete the takeover but, in 1989, the entire area was combined. Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd (KCGM) was formed to manage the assets and operations of joint venture partners, Normandy Australia and Homestake Gold of Australia Limited.
For the first time, all leases and infrastructure of the Golden Mile, Mt Charlotte (and Mt Percy to the north) had been brought together. Significant changes – the most since gold was first discovered in Kalgoorlie by Paddy Hannan in 1893 – occurred. It was now possible to mine far more economically for gold and continue the harvest of the Golden Mile, which has produced nearly 50 million ounces of gold since the days of Hannan.

For more information about Kalgoorlie visit www.drivewa.com.au