Kalgoorlie-Boulder started life as a thriving gold rush town and has evolved into the largest and fastest growing city in the Australian outback. As the country’s biggest gold mining centre, this is the perfect place to discover the fascinating stories of the gold rush era and immerse yourself in the culture of this modern mining town.
When Paddy Hannan registered his reward claim in Coolgardie on 17 June 1893, it marked the beginning of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder gold rush. What followed was staggering in size. Men came in their thousands from all over the world and hundreds of mining companies were floated to speculate on the rich reefs. In the space of a few years, the Goldfields became the economic and political centre of Western Australia.
Today, this dynamic and cosmopolitan city is home to over 30,000 people and boasts a rich variety of tourist attractions and unique experiences.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder attractions
- Discover the gold rush past on a walk around Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s grand historic buildings and fascinating museums. The Inner City Trails walk explores an impressive array of heritage buildings including Town Hall, Boulder Town Hall, St Mary’s Church and Boulder Pharmacy.
- Pay a visit to the Mining Hall of Fame to view fascinating interactive displays, pan for gold, watch liquid gold being poured or take the underground tour of Hannan’s North Mile.
- Take a tour of the Super Pit, Australia’s largest open cut gold mine, located off the Goldfields Highway. The open pit operation is currently three kilometres long, 1.4 kilometres wide and 370 metres deep.
- Admire the spectacular displays of gold rush paraphernalia, such as gold nuggets and jewellery at Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s WA Museum.
- Experience the excitement of the Boulder market day, where the streets come alive with various stalls showcasing local homemade produce. This event is held once a month on historic Burt Street.
- Check out Western Australia’s only operating pharmacy museum, the Boulder Pharmacy, and discover the pharmacy's fascinating history spanning over a hundred years.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder accommodation and facilities
There’s an excellent choice of accommodation, ranging from five-star luxury resort hotels and first-class motels through to self-catering units, caravan parks, bed and breakfasts, and backpackers lodges. Check out the list of Kalgoorlie-Boulder accommodation for more details. A full range shopping, banking and food facilities are also available.
Email the Kalgoorlie Goldfields Visitor Centre, or call +61 8 9021 1966, to find out more about attractions, gold rush history and accommodation in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
