The gold rush town Kalgoorlie, queen of the Golden Mile, is the centre of the State's gold mining industry. Within a week of Paddy Hannan's gold discovery in 1893 there were 1,400 prospectors on the scene. The town was proclaimed officially two years later.

Initially hundreds died of typhoid and progress was strangled due to the lack of water until the engineering genius of C.Y. O'Connor overcame the problem by damming the Helena River at Mundaring (in the hills above Perth) and pumping the water 560 kilometres to Kalgoorlie.

Although Kalgoorlie's fortunes still largely ebb and flow and are dependent on the price of gold, the town has broadened its base with the growth of the nickel industry and the pastoral development of the area. A visit to the Hannans North Tourist Mine and the Golden Mile Museum will give you a vivid picture of how the early miners worked.

There are feral rabbits, foxes, wild goats, as well as dingoes, kangaroo and emus. You might catch a glimpse of a large racehorse goanna - looking like a fairytale dragon. Several varieties of the eagle family frequent the region along with a multitude of parrots and cockatoos. There are also crested pigeons, crows, mallee fowl and the Australian bustard. If you heard a particularly melodious bird song, it is probably the Pied Butcher bird.

Keep your eyes peeled for the sixty species of eucalyptus growing in the region, including many flowering varieties. Look out for the pale grey-green leaves of the famous sandalwood tree - it is not uncommon. The most vibrant of the wildflowers is the dramatic red and black Stuart Desert Pea. You'll also see Hakeas, Callistemons, the brilliant Red Bottle Brush, the Hop Bush and the native Hibiscus. In spring the fluffy, yellow blossoms of the Wattle add colourful touches to the landscape.

The old gold-mining town of Coolgardie is one of the best-known ghost towns in Australia or possibly the world. Alluvial gold was discovered in 1892 and Coolgardie grew from nothing to a booming town of 15,000 people, 23 hotels, 6 banks and 2 stock exchanges in just 10 years.

The main street was wide enough for camel trains to turn, splendid public buildings were erected and ambitious plans were made for the future. Sadly, the gold soon petered out, and in 1985 there were only 700 people in the town; however today there is a wave of confidence emerging and the population is increasing.

Many of the old buildings are gone without trace, but there is still plenty left to recall the gold-boom days, and Coolgardie remains an important tourist attraction.

Norseman "the Eastern gate to the Western State" is a major stopping point for travellers to and from the Eastern States and is the ideal place to break your journey.

Gold, the magic metal, put Norseman on the map in 1894 when prospector Laurie Sinclair stopped off to visit his brother on his way to Esperance. He tethered his horse "Hardy Norseman" overnight and in the morning was amazed to discover that it had pawed up a gold nugget.
A rich gold reef was discovered on the already proclaimed Dundas Field and thousands flocked to make their fortune.

Today gold remains of major importance to Norseman which still has a population of some 1,800 people, most of whom still depend on the mining industry. Central Norseman still mines the richest quartz reef in Australia and the historic hayburner "Hardy Norseman" has not been forgotten as there is now a striking statue erected in his honour.

The Historical Collection housed in the old School of Mines reflects on days gone by. A trip down the Heritage Trail will give you an insight into the life of the mining community's past and present.