Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
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Categories: Cities in Western Australia | Settlements established in the 1890s | Mining towns in Western Australia | Towns in Western Australia | Australian gold rushes | Australian Aboriginal placenames
Kalgoorlie-Boulder is a Western Australian city located about 600 km east of Perth. Its current approximate population is 30,000. The name Kalgoorlie is derived from the Wangai word Karlkurla, meaning "place of the silky pears". With the nearby locality of Boulder and surrounding suburbs it forms one local government area, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Kalgoorlie is the largest urban centre in the Goldfields-Esperance region.
HistoryIn June 1893, prospectors Patrick (Paddy) Hannan, Tom Flanagan, and Dan O'Shea were travelling to Mt Youle when one of their horses cast a shoe. During the resultant halt in their journey, the men noticed signs of gold in the area, and decided to stay put. On June 17, 1893, Hannan filed a Reward Claim, leading to hundreds of men swarming to the area in search of gold and Kalgoorlie was born. The mining of gold, along with other metals such as nickel, has been a major industry in Kalgoorlie ever since. The concentrated area of large gold mines surrounding the original Hannan find is often referred to as the Golden Mile, and is considered by some to be the richest square mile of earth on the planet. The town's population was about 30,000 people in 1903 and began to grow into nearby Boulder. Image:Kalgoorlie after 1934 race riots.jpg
Kalgoorlie after the 1934 race riots
The narrow gauge Government railway line reached Kalgoorlie in the 1896, and the main named railway service from Perth was the overnight sleeper train The Westland which ran until the 1970s. In 1917, a standard gauge railway line was completed, connecting Kalgoorlie to the city of Port Augusta, South Australia, across 2000 km of desert, and consequently the rest of the eastern states. The standardisation of the railway connecting Perth (which changed route from the narrow gauge route) in 1968 made it possible for rail travel from Perth to Sydney - and the Indian Pacific rail service commenced soon after. The Goldfields area boomed as a whole, with an area population exceeding 200,000, mainly prospectors. The area gained a notorious reputation for being a wild west with bandits and prostitutes. This rapid increase in population led to a proposed new state of Auralia but with the sudden diaspora after the Gold Rush led to plans falling through. Places, famous or infamous, that Kalgoorlie is noted for include its water pipeline, designed by C. Y. O'Connor, which brings in fresh water from Mundaring Weir near Perth; its Hay Street brothels (the street itself was apparently named after Hay Street, Perth); its two-up school; the goldfields railway loopline; the Kalgoorlie Town Hall; the Paddy Hannan statue/drinking fountain; the Super Pit; and Mt Charlotte lookout. Its main street is Hannan Street, named after the town's founder. One of the infamous brothels also serves as a museum and is a major national attraction. The town of Kalgoorlie and the shire of Boulder amalgamated on February 1, 1989 to become the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Kalgoorlie remains a separate entity but is part of the federal division. MiningThe Super PitThe Super Pit is an opencut gold mine approximately 3.5km long, 1.5km wide and 360 metres deep.[1] It was created by Alan Bond [1] who bought up a number of old mine leases in order to get the land area needed for the Super Pit. Every now and again the digging reveals an old shaft containing abandoned equipment and vehicles from the earlier mines. The mine operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The mine blasts at 1pm every day, unless the prevailing winds would carry the dust over the town. Each of the massive trucks carries 225 tonnes of rock and the round trip takes about 35 minutes, most of that time being the slow uphill haul. Many women are employed in the mine as drivers of trucks and operators of equipment. Employees must live in Kalgoorlie; it is not a fly-in fly-out operation. The mine is expected to be productive until about 2017. At that point, it is planned to abandon it and allow the groundwater to seep in and fill it. It is estimated it will take about 50 years to fill completely. There is a visitor centre overlooking the Super Pit. AttractionsImage:Kal Post mod.jpg
Kalgoorlie Post Office, Hannan Street.
AccommodationThere are 25 historical hotels and pubs in Kalgoorlie which are still operating today;
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Map showing the proposed boundaries of Auralia (of which Kalgoorlie would have been the state capital)
There are also some hotels that no longer exist in the city;
In addition, Kalgoorlie has modern accommodation facilities, including;
SuburbsThe City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is made up of 20 sparse suburbs, each of which are maintained by the Kalgoorlie-Boulder council, although many residents of the suburbs in the same postcode as the two CBD's state their address simply as 'Kalgoorlie','South Kalgoorlie' or 'Boulder' rather than as a particular suburb); Image:AmyJohnson1931 WEFretwellCollection.jpg
Amy Johnson, the famous aviator bravely flew to Kalgoorlie in July 1930.
Image:AmyJohnson1931 2crop WEFretwellCollection.jpg
Amy Johnson at the Kalgoorlie War Memorial, July 1930.
Image:Kalgoorlie location map in Western Australia.PNG
Location of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia (red).
Known as the home of the Super Pit, it is one of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's historical suburbs featuring many buildings and landmarks dating as far back as 1880. It was once the central business district for the Town of Boulder, but since amalgamation with Kalgoorlie, it is now more of a historical local centre. Boulder has its own post office, town hall and many hotels along its main thoroughfare, Burt Street.
A new housing suburb located next to the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport which was recently expanded and is enjoying healthy growth.
A recent housing suburb built on old golf course land. Fairways also features a primary school, church, caravan park and small business. A popular choice for young families.
Adeline was originally constructed around 1970 by the State Housing Commission. The suburb was built on the "Radburn" concept, with houses facing away from the street and common pathways linking homes. In 2003, a significant urban renewal project, including the renaming of the suburb to Golden Grove and re-aligning of homes was commenced.[2]
See Broadwood.
Located in Kalgoorlie's far north. It was once the city's richest part of town, and the first suburb to have its own independent shopping centre (Hannans Boulevarde). A school and an 18 hole golf course are featured as well.
The central business district. Hannan Street, named after Paddy Hannan, is the city's most major street and stretches from the western side of the suburb (mainly housing and some light industrial) to the eastern side (national retail chains, banks, law enforcement, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and tourist attractions).
The name of the eastern extension to Hannans. Proving popular due to adjacent nature reserve (Karlkurla Park) and good location.
One of Kalgoorlie's oldest and largest housing suburbs. Much like other older suburbs, almost every street is parallel with Hannan Street in Central Kalgoorlie. It houses North Kalgoorlie primary and pre primary schools, many small businesses and medical practices, a hotel and a tavern and an 18 hole golf course.
Much smaller today than it originally was before the Super Pit expansion. It's located at the far east end of Lamington between the northern Goldfields railway and Goldfields Highway.
The south-east section of high-class housing suburb Somerville. O'Connor is home to its own primary and Catholic high schools and shopping facilities, and it also houses the city's only recreation centre.
A narrow suburb following Piccadilly street between Central Kalgoorlie and Lamington. Features the city's regional hospital, some small business, a hotel, a sporting arena and two grassed ovals.
Reputed as Kalgoorlie-Boulder's richest suburb, with unique design and high-class housing and parks. It's located between West Kalgoorlie, Central Kalgoorlie and O'Connor.
Stretching from Boundary Street, Kalgoorlie to Holmes Street, Golden Grove and bordering with Central Kalgoorlie, O'Connor, Golden Grove and Sport O' Kings. Mostly housing occupies South Kalgoorlie, however three high schools and one primary school, some medium industrial and small to medium businesses are also here.
A small recent extension to the western side of South Kalgoorlie between Maxwell Street and the Kalgoorlie race course.
A housing-only suburb located on the opposite side of Fairways on Burt Street. Bordering with Golden Grove, O'Connor, Fairways and Boulder.
Kalgoorlie's main industrial area. It is the first suburb as you approach Kalgoorlie on the Great Eastern Highway. Features the city's airport and small, medium and heavy industrial. Currently under expansion further west (ANZAC Drive Industrial Estate.)
The western tip of Lamington built in the eighties. Mostly housing with one shop, sporting facilities and an arboretum nature reserve.
The small remains of East Kalgoorlie before being swallowed up by the Super Pit. Still existing area features mostly housing with one primary school, and is home to the Mt. Charlotte mine shaft and Nanny Goat Hill. TransportFor eastward train travellers, on the trans-continental "Indian Pacific" service, Kalgoorlie is the last town encountered for hundreds of kilometres before entering the vast expanse of the Nullarbor Plain. The "Prospector" train run by Transwa provides daily services to Perth. Notable people from Kalgoorlie
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