Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie

The water pipeline to Kalgoorlie from Perth was conceived in the late 1890’s following the discovery of gold in Coolgardie in 1892 and the influx of people into the area all hoping to discover their fortune.  As the supply of water for the new goldfield was nearly as expensive as the gold they were searching for as it was carted by camels nearly 400km.  The first gold was discovered in Coolgardie by two gentlemen and just 4 years later one of them was to die aged just 31.  Patrick (Paddy) Hannan’s discovery in Kalgoorlie was not made till 1896 (after the decision to build the pipeline).  This pipeline would carry water over 600km from Mundaring Weir in Perth to a reservoir on Mt Charlotte (part of the Golden Mile) in Kalgoorlie.  This involved the use of 8 pumping stations, originally steam powered and now electronically controlled from Perth.  The engineering feat was completed in 1902 and the pipe was built of steel with the various pipes joined by lead.  The pipe was buried underground in order to help prevent heating of the water and possible evaporation.  During the Depression years the unemployed were used to dig up the pipeline, carry out repairs and place the pipeline above ground for the full distance.  It was found that the salinity of the ground had caused corrosion on the outside of the pipe so that led to the decision for the pipeline to be raised.  It is now painted with heat reflecting paint to help prevent the temperature rising to high.  The water takes from 2 to 3 weeks to complete its journey from Perth to Kalgoorlie.

the old gaol and Wardens Office at Coolgardie

We stopped and enjoyed a walk up and down the main street of Coolgardie, now often thought of as a ‘ghost’ town but with a determined Shire hoping to entice more tourists to call in.  The gold here was not as plentiful as Kalgoorlie and the population of nearly 25,000 over some decades dwindled to just 200.  There is approx. 1,200 in the shire now and there was a free sausage sizzle happening outside the supermarket on Saturday and members of the Shire were conducting a survey asking locals and visitors alike what was good and what could be improved in the area so in exchange for a sausage sanger we were pleased to give some feedback.  There are some lovely old buildings along the street however some of them do need some TLC and of course that is a question of money so we wish them well with their future endeavours.

any one for an 'operation'?

this is on display at the Medical and Pharmacy display in Coolgardie

Kalgoorlie is full of lovely old buildings.  We walked along the street today (Sunday) and soaked up some of the history just standing there in all its glory.  

  The original Post Office and Wardens Office is being restored and is fenced off but the beautiful stonework can be seen from the footpath.  The clock spire has a golden top and can be clearly seen when looking at a view of the city from any high point.  The land is mainly flat so the lookout at Mt Charlotte (at the end of town) helps give an overview. 

view from Mt Charlotte

We also visited the Super Pit Lookout (no blasting today) and stood amazed at the view of this ‘living’ gold mine. 

 I was amazed to learn that this venture came about through the intervention of Alan Bond back in the early 1980’s.  This area known as The Golden Mile, had various mining leases held by different people.  Alan Bond saw that if these leases could be combined the area could be mined more efficiently and more gold recovered.  He went about buying up these leases but when his financial crisis arose the development of this venture was taken over by others and thus the Super Pit was born.  The area to be mined in total is 3.6km long, 1.35km wide and to a depth of approx. 600 metres.  The Visitors Centre is informed each day if there is to be a ‘blast’ carried out so we will be checking again tomorrow in case there is. 

We were disappointed to see that the old railway ‘loop’ line we rode when we were here in 1996 is now no more, just a museum.  It is possible that the Super Pit has absorbed part of the area the historic railway line ran through.

Patrick (Paddy) Hannan