Kalgoorlie, WA
226.0 km (2 hrs )
★★☆☆☆

Gold was first discovered in the eastern part of Western Australia in 1892, when Arthur Bayley and William Ford announced the first big discovery of gold at Coolgardie. News of the even bigger discovery at Mount Charlotte in 1893 spread afar and, in 1894 alone, 25,000 men flocked to Western Australia. Many came to escape the depression that was gripping Victoria and South Australia at the time. Over the following decade, more than 100,000 men, women, and children from around the globe arrived to try their luck. Today, the towns of Kalgoorlie and Norseman still have strong ties with the mining industry, while Coolgardie is now a shadow if its former self.

I had an interesting day exploring these mining towns. My first stop was Coolgardie, where grand buildings still line the impressively wide street. Further east was Kalgoorlie - a thriving town of some 30,000 people. This too had a plethora of historic buildings in the centre of town, as well as mines dotted all around. The Super Pit is one of Australia's largest open cut gold mines and is a must to see. My final destination was Norseman, and the start of the long trek back east to Sydney.