Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

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For other uses of Kalgoorlie, see Kalgoorlie (disambiguation)

Kalgoorlie-Boulder is a Western Australian city located about 600 km east of Perth. Its current approximate population is 30,000. The name Kalgoorlie is derived from the Wangai word Karlkurla, meaning "place of the silky pears". With the nearby locality of Boulder and surrounding suburbs it forms one local government area, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Kalgoorlie is the largest urban centre in the Goldfields-Esperance region.

History

In June 1893, prospectors Patrick (Paddy) Hannan, Tom Flanagan, and Dan O'Shea were travelling to Mt Youle when one of their horses cast a shoe. During the resultant halt in their journey, the men noticed signs of gold in the area, and decided to stay put. On June 17, 1893, Hannan filed a Reward Claim, leading to hundreds of men swarming to the area in search of gold and Kalgoorlie was born. The mining of gold, along with other metals such as nickel, has been a major industry in Kalgoorlie ever since. The concentrated area of large gold mines surrounding the original Hannan find is often referred to as the Golden Mile, and is considered by some to be the richest square mile of earth on the planet. The town's population was about 30,000 people in 1903 and began to grow into nearby Boulder.

The narrow gauge Government railway line reached Kalgoorlie in the 1896, and the main named railway service from Perth was the overnight sleeper train The Westland which ran until the 1970s. In 1917, a standard gauge railway line was completed, connecting Kalgoorlie to the city of Port Augusta, South Australia, across 2000 km of desert, and consequently the rest of the eastern states. The standardisation of the railway connecting Perth (which changed route from the narrow gauge route) in 1968 made it possible for rail travel from Perth to Sydney - and the Indian Pacific rail service commenced soon after. The Goldfields area boomed as a whole, with an area population exceeding 200,000, mainly prospectors. The area gained a notorious reputation for being a wild west with bandits and prostitutes. This rapid increase in population led to a proposed new state of Auralia but with the sudden diaspora after the Gold Rush led to plans falling through.

Places, famous or infamous, that Kalgoorlie is noted for include its water pipeline, designed by C. Y. O'Connor, which brings in fresh water from Mundaring Weir near Perth; its Hay Street brothels (the street itself was apparently named after Hay Street, Perth); its two-up school; the goldfields railway loopline; the Kalgoorlie Town Hall; the Paddy Hannan statue/drinking fountain; the Super Pit; and Mt Charlotte lookout. Its main street is Hannan Street, named after the town's founder. One of the infamous brothels also serves as a museum and is a major national attraction.

The town of Kalgoorlie and the shire of Boulder amalgamated on February 1, 1989 to become the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Kalgoorlie remains a separate entity but is part of the federal division.

Mining

The Super Pit

The Super Pit is an opencut gold mine approximately 3.5km long, 1.5km wide and 360 metres deep.

It was created by Alan Bond who bought up a number of old mine leases in order to get the land area needed for the Super Pit. Every now and again the digging reveals an old shaft containing abandoned equipment and vehicles from the earlier mines.

The mine operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The mine blasts at 1pm every day, unless the prevailing winds would carry the dust over the town. Each of the massive trucks carries 225 tonnes of rock and the round trip takes about 35 minutes, most of that time being the slow uphill haul.

Many women are employed in the mine as drivers of trucks and operators of equipment. Employees must live in Kalgoorlie; it is not a fly-in fly-out operation.

The mine is expected to be productive until about 2017. At that point, it is planned to abandon it and allow the groundwater to seep in and fill it. It is estimated it will take about 50 years to fill completely.

There is a visitor centre overlooking the Super Pit.

Attractions

Accommodation

There are 25 historical hotels and pubs in Kalgoorlie which are still operating today;

Albion Shamrock Hotel
Broken Hill Hotel
Caledonia House
Cornwall Hotel
Criterion Hotel
de Bernales Tavern (formerly Victoria Tavern)
Eastern Hotel (formerly Federal Hotel)
Exchange Hotel
Flanagans Bar (formerly Union Club Hotel)
Gala Tavern
Golden Eagle Hotel
Grand Hotel (Kalgoorlie)
Grand Hotel (Boulder)
Hannans Hotel
Inland City Hotel
Kalgoorlie Hotel
Main Reef Tavern
Metropole Hotel
North End Tavern
Palace Hotel
Piccadilly Hotel
Recreation Hotel
Rock Inn (formerly Tattersalls)
Star and Garter
Tower Hotel
York Hotel

There are also some hotels that no longer exist in the city;

Boulder Block (demolished 1991) (Removed due to Super Pit expansion. This pub had a mine shaft so underground workers could access it.)
Commercial Hotel (burnt down 1973)
Foundry Hotel (closed 2005-)
Glendevon Hotel (burnt down 1986-)
Mount Lyall (refurbished as restaurant 2004)

In addition, Kalgoorlie has modern accommodation facilities, including;

Broadwater Resort
Railway Hotel/Motel
Quest Yelverton Apartments
All Seasons Plaza Hotel
Bel Eyre Motel
Kalgoorlie Overland Motel
Old Australia Hotel (accommodation only)

Suburbs

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is made up of 20 sparse suburbs, each of which are maintained by the Kalgoorlie-Boulder council, although many residents of the suburbs in the same postcode as the two CBD's state their address simply as 'Kalgoorlie','South Kalgoorlie' or 'Boulder' rather than as a particular suburb);

Boulder

Known as the home of the Super Pit, it is one of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's historical suburbs featuring many buildings and landmarks dating as far back as 1880. It was once the central business district for the Town of Boulder, but since amalgamation with Kalgoorlie, it is now more of a historical local centre. Boulder has its own post office, town hall and many hotels along its main thoroughfare, Burt Street.

Broadwood (aka - Hampton Heights)

A new housing suburb located next to the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport which was recently expanded and is enjoying healthy growth.

Fairways

A recent housing suburb built on old golf course land. Fairways also features a primary school, church, caravan park and small business. A popular choice for young families.

Golden Grove (formerly Adeline)

Adeline was originally constructed around 1970 by the State Housing Commission. The suburb was built on the "Radburn" concept, with houses facing away from the street and common pathways linking homes. In 2003, a significant urban renewal project, including the renaming of the suburb to Golden Grove and re-aligning of homes was commenced.

Hampton Heights

See Broadwood.

Hannans

Located in Kalgoorlie's far north. It was once the city's richest part of town, and the first suburb to have its own independent shopping centre (Hannans Boulevarde). A school and an 18 hole golf course are featured as well.

Central Kalgoorlie

The central business district. Hannan Street, named after Paddy Hannan, is the city's most major street and stretches from the western side of the suburb (mainly housing and some light industrial) to the eastern side (national retail chains, banks, law enforcement, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and tourist attractions).

Karlkurla Grove

The name of the eastern extension to Hannans. Proving popular due to adjacent nature reserve (Karlkurla Park) and good location.

Lamington

One of Kalgoorlie's oldest and largest housing suburbs. Much like other older suburbs, almost every street is parallel with Hannan Street in Central Kalgoorlie. It houses North Kalgoorlie primary and pre primary schools, many small businesses and medical practices, a hotel and a tavern and an 18 hole golf course.

Mullingar

Much smaller today than it originally was before the Super Pit expansion. It's located at the far east end of Lamington between the northern Goldfields railway and Goldfields Highway.

O'Connor

The south-east section of high-class housing suburb Somerville. O'Connor is home to its own primary and Catholic high schools and shopping facilities, and it also houses the city's only recreation centre.

Piccadilly

A narrow suburb following Piccadilly street between Central Kalgoorlie and Lamington. Features the city's regional hospital, some small business, a hotel, a sporting arena and two grassed ovals.

Somerville

Reputed as Kalgoorlie-Boulder's richest suburb, with unique design and high-class housing and parks. It's located between West Kalgoorlie, Central Kalgoorlie and O'Connor.

South Kalgoorlie

Stretching from Boundary Street, Kalgoorlie to Holmes Street, Golden Grove and bordering with Central Kalgoorlie, O'Connor, Golden Grove and Sport O' Kings. Mostly housing occupies South Kalgoorlie, however three high schools and one primary school, some medium industrial and small to medium businesses are also here.

Sport O' Kings

A small recent extension to the western side of South Kalgoorlie between Maxwell Street and the Kalgoorlie race course.

Victory Heights

A housing-only suburb located on the opposite side of Fairways on Burt Street. Bordering with Golden Grove, O'Connor, Fairways and Boulder.

West Kalgoorlie

Kalgoorlie's main industrial area. It is the first suburb as you approach Kalgoorlie on the Great Eastern Highway. Features the city's airport and small, medium and heavy industrial. Currently under expansion further west (ANZAC Drive Industrial Estate.)

West Lamington

The western tip of Lamington built in the eighties. Mostly housing with one shop, sporting facilities and an arboretum nature reserve.

Williamstown

The small remains of East Kalgoorlie before being swallowed up by the Super Pit. Still existing area features mostly housing with one primary school, and is home to the Mt. Charlotte mine shaft and Nanny Goat Hill.

Transport

For eastward train travellers, on the trans-continental "Indian Pacific" service, Kalgoorlie is the last town encountered for hundreds of kilometres before entering the vast expanse of the Nullarbor Plain. The "Prospector" train run by Transwa provides daily services to Perth.

Notable people from Kalgoorlie

Matt Birney, Western Australia's former Liberal Opposition leader
John Cornell, actor and movie producer
Rica Erickson, historian, botanist and author
Brian Hayes, U.K. radio personality
Dean Kemp, premiership-winning Aussie Rules footballer
Walter Lindrum, Australian world champion professional billiards player
Barry Marshall, Physician, 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine winner, Order of Australia medallist
Tim Rogers, singer/songwriter
Terry Walsh, field hockey striker and coach
Kevin Bloody Wilson, singer and comedian

Geography

Weather

Kalgoorlie has a dry climate with hot summers and cool winters. The average annual rainfall is 260mm on an average of 65 days and, while the average rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, there is considerable variation from year to year.

January is the hottest month with an average maximum temperature of 33.6°C, but temperatures above 40.0°C occur nearly once a week when hot, dry, north to northeasterly winds arrive. Such high temperatures are usually followed by a cool change from the south and occasionally with a thunderstorm.

By contrast winters are cool with July average maximum and minimum temperatures being 16.5°C and 4.8°C respectively. Cold wet days with a maximum below 12.0°C occur about once every winter. The lowest maximum temperature recorded is 7.2°C on 19 July 1961. Overnight temperatures fall below freezing about 4 times in a typical winter. Such events occur on clear nights following a day of cold southerly winds.

Climate Table
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum temperature (°C)	33.6	32.0	29.5	25.1	20.5	17.5	16.7	18.4	22.2	25.6	28.9	31.9	25.2
Mean daily minimum temperature (°C)	18.2	17.8	16.0	12.6	8.6	6.2	4.9	5.5	7.9	10.9	14.0	16.5	11.6
Mean total rainfall (mm)	22.8	31.5	23.6	22.1	27.8	29.6	25.4	21.7	14.5	15.1	18.2	16.1	268.4
Mean number of rain days	3.7	4.1	4.3	5.4	7.1	8.2	8.4	7.1	5.5	4.3	3.9	3.6	65.6
Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Schools

There are currently 10 primary schools, 4 high schools and 1 university in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area.

Primary Schools

Boulder Primary School
East Kalgoorlie Primary School
Goldfields Baptist College (private)
Hannans Primary School
Kalgoorlie Primary School
North Kalgoorlie Primary School
O'Connor Primary School
Saint Joseph's Primary School (private)
Saint Mary's Primary School (Kalgoorlie Catholic Primary School) (private)
South Kalgoorlie Primary School

High Schools

Eastern Goldfields College (formerly the Eastern Goldfields Senior High School Senior Campus)
Goldfields Baptist College (private)
John Paul College (formerly Prendiville College & Christian Bros. College (amalgamated)) (private)
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School (formerly the Eastern Goldfields Senior High School Middle School Campus)

Universities

Curtin University of Technology - Kalgoorlie Campus (includes the Western Australian School of Mines and Curtin VTEC; formerly Kalgoorlie College)

Images

External links

Kalgoorlie official website

Maps

Topo Map (Rail in red dots)
Street map from Google maps
Satellite map from Google maps

Footnotes

References

Casey, Gavin and Mayman, Ted.(1964) The Mile that Midas Touched Rigby, Adelaide..