Norseman

Norseman
The town named after a horse. Gold, the magic metal, put Norseman on the map in 1894 when prospector Laurie Sinclair stopped off to visit his brother on his way to Esperance. He tethered his horse “Hardy Norseman� overnight and in the morning was amazed to discover that it had pawed up a gold nugget. A rich gold reef was discovered on the already proclaimed Dundas Field and thousands flocked to make their fortune. Today gold remains of major importance to Norseman which still has a population of some 1,800 people, most of whom still depend on the mining industry. Central Norseman still mines the richest quartz reef in Australia and the historic hayburner “Hardy Norseman� has not been forgotten as there is now a striking statue erected in his honour. The Historical Collection housed in the old School of Mines reflects on days gone by. A trip down the Heritage Trail will give you an insight into the life of the mining community’s past and present.