Kalgoorlie Boulder, WA

We arrived in Kalgoorlie with the intention of perhaps obtaining work and staying for a while, however after Shovel experienced the run around by workpac, a recruitment company, we made the decision to abscond a few days later. Never ones to miss an opportunity to explore, we made the most of being in town and ticked a visit to the ‘Super Pit’ off the list. Kalgoorlie’s main tourist attraction is of course the mine, one of the largest open pit gold mines in Australia. Also known as the Fimiston Open Pit, due to the style of mineralisation that is of abundant sulphides and tellurides, the rectangular or oblong shaped mine is approximately 3.5km long and 1.5km wide and 600m deep. Gold was first struck in Kalgoorlie in 1893, with Thomas Flanagan, Patrick Hannan and Dan O’Shea discovering the first alluvial gold on the slopes of Mt. Charlotte. Their find resulted in a gold rush with several independent mines tolling away on the ‘Golden Mile’ some unsuccessfully until 1989 when Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) bought out the mines to create the super pit we now see today. Production results published in 2018 stated about 800,000 ounces of gold was produced per year with mine life expected until 2021. The intention then is to process lower grade previously extracted ore until 2031. Earlier in 2018 the open pit mine experienced two substantial landslides in the space of 12 hours that ultimately resulted in the temporary shutdown of operations and a reduction in output, with joint venture partner Newmont Mining reassessing production life. Months prior to the landslides 36 employees were made redundant and more endured the same fate months after the landslides. This upheaval of production targets and uncertainty amongst the workforce could potentially have been the reason why the recruitment company was noncommittal, first saying there was work, then giving us the run around...  

​Now known as the City of Kalgoorlie Boulder the two separate towns amalgamated in 1989 and boast a stunning array of architecturally designed civic and commercial buildings in their main streets. When people flooded to the region to secure their futures in the late 19th century many came ill prepared for the harsh outback climate, hot dry summers with low rainfall. Much of the success of the two towns is owed to CY O’Connor, an engineer who was responsible for the design and construction of a freshwater pipeline from Mundaring Weir near Perth to Mount Charlotte Reservoir in Kalgoorlie. The original pipeline first constructed in 1903 is still in use today and remains the lifeline for the region, without this pipeline the town would not be viable. 

HEART WALK

Phil & Emily Braham Streets paved in Gold 2017

Buodoon Edie Ulrich Going out Bush 2018

Andrew Frazer Unraveled 2018

Stormie Mills Drowning Within 2017

Jason Dimer Kgungka Thurtu (Sister Girl) 2018

Rosie Woods Untitled 2018

One aspect we enjoyed immensely about Kalgoorlie Boulder was the large-scale public art displayed through out the town and revealed by undertaking a 4.5km self-guided walking trail. Known as the ‘heART walk’ and designed to promote liveability and social cohesion the project incorporating 60 contemporary murals was concluded in 2018 and showcases local and visiting artists.

We visited ​Chunky Timber Co, operated by Kim ‘Chunky’ Gent, a truck driver now creating one-off timber pieces. According to the brochure, “Chunky produces close to zero waste, turning the smallest offcuts into his famous Nullarbor bead.”  Shovel and I purchased a chopping board and a bracelet each of the famous Nullarbor beads, symbolising the bracelets as a commitment to each other and our relationship. 

​We ate at the quaint, Just a Little Cafe in Kalgoorlie