We’ve just spent a week in Kalgoorlie staying with our son who lives there. Kalgoorlie is a large,vibrant and diverse town. Settled in early 1893 after gold was discovered, the town has grand old buildings, very humble small corrugated iron houses and modern brick and tile homes. In fact, Kalgoorlie is a boom town again and there are new suburbs with very attractive new houses.
We like to go exploring! Our first big day out involved driving the Burra Woodline, a 28 kilometre unsealed road following the remnants of a bush railway network. Early European settlers established a railway camp and industrial repair hub at Barra Rock at the end of the track. The camp and industrial hub moved when the line moved. The railway transported timber for mining and domestic use in Kalgoorlie. The tracks radiated out from the central hub, clearing the timber as they moved each time.
Still some wildflowers in bloom.
These very pretty flowers growing on a bush at least a metre high look like tulips.
Barra Rock is also a natural water catchment area. The early pioneers built a rock dam wall to capture and store water which was essential for powering the steam engines. The natural spring is still evident.
Reminders of when this area was an industrial hub and pioneering farming area.
The support for the winch going down this shaft was made from three old drill rods.
The next day we set off out Yarri Road passing the old Yarri Pub, now derelict. Edjudina is the nearest station (large farm) and well. Evidence of so many mines. This area is very stark and beautiful with many signs of mining ventures but most are now abandoned.
Old meets new: a windmill next to a solar panel.
Returned to Kalgoorlie via Pinjin Road and then Bulong Road. Saw lakes and distant hills, a small graveyard, falling down houses and abandoned accommodation camp sites. This is a harsh but very beautiful landscape.
st barbara parade
Truck with four trailers.
Some of the haul trucks stand 6m high, 8m wide and 13m long.
Sunday was the last day of the St Barbara Festival culminating in a parade down the main street of Kalgoorlie. The festival begins on Thursday evening with a memorial service honouring the men and women who have lost their lives in the mining community over the past 125 years. A miner’s lamp is lit at the memorial service to signify the beginning of the festival. The festival has been held every year since 1999, except last year due to CV-19.
Saint Barbara is the patron saint of mining and also military engineers, armourers and artillery men. She was known for her bravery and courage and has been the patron saint of mining since 304AD.
The parade featured decorated mining equipment and personnel, floats, a pipe band and other groups from mining and the community. There were several school groups, Aboriginal service groups, two St John Ambulances, mine rescue teams and other community organisations. People on the floats threw sweets into the audience, which lined both sides of the street. Very exciting for the children. And for us, too!
We enjoy visiting Kalgoorlie. We drive up from Perth. The trip takes about seven hours as we stop twice so the dog can stretch his legs and have a drink. Kalgoorlie is a vibrant town with museums, ghost towns, interesting drives in all directions and so much history. There’s shopping centres and strip shops along the main streets and many cultural attractions. Of course, the main attraction for us is spending time with our son!