Menzies / Lake Ballard

Established in 1896 as a result of a gold find by an American prospector Leslie Robert Menzie, the area was originally known as the North Coolgardie Goldfields and at its height in the 1900s there were more than a dozen mines, 13 hotels and three breweries with an estimated 10,000 people living within a five mile radius of the town.

But the cost of extracting gold could not be justified in the area and one by one the big mines closed until commercial mining had all but ceased by 1910. The railway proved something of a saviour for the township and it became a service town for a growing pastoral industry.



The Menzies Town Hall is one of the classic landmarks in the area. Apart from its architectural significance the clock tower was 'clockless' for 100 years after the ship reportedly carrying the new clock sank off Rottnest in 1905. A clock was installed in the tower in 2000 in time for the New Year celebrations.



Lake Ballard, just over 50 kilometres west of Menzies, has become the newest attraction for the region. Its selection by international sculptor Antony Gormley for his 'Inside Australia' exhibition for the 2003 Perth International Arts Festival has created international attention. He has created 51 figures, all derived from laser scans of the inhabitants of Menzies at the time, which are placed around a seven square kilometre area of the salt lake bed.



Lake Ballard is also a significant part of the region's salt lake system and is a breeding habitat for species of water fowl, as well as the Banded Stilt when heavy rain causes a special type of brine shrimp to hatch in the lake, attracting the Banded Stilt although it should be pointed out that this is a very rare occurrence, having only occurred approximately seven times in 215 years at Lake Ballard.

watch video of Antony Gormley Sculptures - Lake Ballard, Western Australia

Another must see is the work of local Indigenous artists, including the Tjuntjuntjara and Ilkurlka people are also on display in the historic federation building that houses the Menzies Visitor Centre.