Coolgardie

Coolgardie
Coolgardie is located 550 kilometres east of Perth, approximately 40 kilometres west of Kalgoorlie, and 187 kilometres north of Norseman. The name Coolgardie is said to be derived from the aboriginal word “Coolcaby�, and is said to be a reference to the area’s mulga vegetation and gnamma waterholes.
Coolgardie owes its existence to the discovery of gold at nearby Fly Flat in September 1892. According to all accounts the 2 prospectors credited with the discovery were Arthur Bayley and William Ford. Reports of the time indicate that on 17 September 1892 Bayley hastily reported the discovery of 554 ounces of gold to J.M. Finnerty, the then resident mining warden at Southern Cross. At the time 554 ounces of gold was worth the stupendous sum of 2200 pounds and in accordance with Western Australian mining regulations, Bailey was offered a “reward claim� covering 20 acres of land at Fly Flat. Bayley’s reward claim proved to be a very profitable one indeed, and was continually worked until 1963. During the 70 years of its existence this mining claim recovered over 500,000 ounces of the precious yellow metal.
From an historical perspective the Coolgardie gold find proved to be one of immense national significance. During the 1890s eastern Australia was in the grips of a severe depression and fortune seekers flocked to the Coolgardie fields in the hope of a better life. Not all these gold seekers discovered the rich pickings they deserved however, and many died of thirst and water borne diseases such as typhoid. Despite early hardships, within the short space of 10 years Coolgardie’s population had mushroomed to 16,000 people.
During its early years Coolgardie served very much as a base for exploring the gold bearing potential of the surrounding red desert country. With the assistance of afghan camel drivers, prospectors often probed deep into the desert searching for ever elusive alluvial gold deposits, and quite typically the afghan “cameleers� would charge prospectors the going rate of a shilling a day to carry essential miner’s supplies, and this included the daily ration of a gallon of life preserving water. In time many of the more bush savvy gold diggers employed local aboriginal guides to lead them to seasonal water holes – often found at the base of granite formations called gnammas. For the early diggers the quest for water was just as important as the discovery of gold – afterall their life depended on it. Amusingly, with water in such short supply, the more wealthy gold diggers frequently demonstrated their friendship by shouting their mates a bath, in preference to a beer.
Today Coolgardie continues its long association with the gold industry, and although no longer a major gold field the town does deserve a special place as the “mother of the Western Australian Goldfields.� Coolgardie locals also sometimes affectionately refer to the town as “The Old Camp�.
Coolgardie Tourist Bureau
When visiting Coolgardie, Nullarbor Net recommends you visit the local tourist bureau which is located on 62 Bayley Street. From the Coolgardie Tourist Bureau visitors can obtain a free copy of the Coolgardie visitor’s guide and map. This brochure provides a comprehensive guide to all attractions within the Coolgardie area along with advice concerning accommodation and other services. Coolgardie’s tourist bureau also offers a booking service for visitors needing to travel by Westrail, the Indian Pacific Railway, or major bus services linking through to Perth and the eastern states. Qantas flights can also be booked for those of you travelling via Kalgoorlie to Perth or Adelaide. Advice on local road conditions can also be provided should you wish to visit a number of natural attractions such as the Gnarlbine Soaks, Victoria Rocks or Rowle’s Lagoon. Coolgardie’s