Coolgardie, WA
We are not travelling very far when we do head further down the road. From our last stop at Karalee Rocks to Coolgardie was only a 90 minute drive and that’s how we like it. We aren’t in a hurry and the leisurely pace means we can make plans and change them based on what we find as we wander.
Coolgardie has a 48-hour RV camp near the old railway station which was just what we needed for a couple of days. There is a dump point and water point nearby too. Five stars Coolgardie.
Coolgardie Visitors Centre & Goldfields Exhibition Museum is worth the entry fee to see the displays and impressive collection of memorabilia, photographs and old stuff. The building inside and out is in great nick. Steve absolutely loved it and completely nerded out.
Turns out an Australian tv show was filmed in the building and in various streets around town. I randomly watched the first episode not long after our visit and instantly recognised the places we had just seen. The show is called Mystery Road: Origin. Have you seen it?
While in the main street there is an outdoor museum opposite the visitors centre in Ben Prior Park. It boasts a collection of old plant, machinery and vehicles plus some more stories to boot.
The Coolgardie Historic Railway Station is worth a walk through. If you are interested in a walk, head up Hunt Street to the Lions Lookout and Bayley’s south head frame.
Food options
Often our first stop in a new place is a cafe for food that we don’t have to cook. So MOG Fresh on Bayley Street – which is actually Great Eastern Hwy but traffic has to slow to 50km/hr as they pass through the main street of town – got our money first and we got a good feed.
Next food stop was the Toolshed Smoke and Grill. It’s a rustic joint with delish steak and smoked brisket sandwiches. Hearty food made with love and people who are grateful for supporting a local business. Gotta love it!
Coolgardie history
In September 1892, Arthur Bailey and William Ford discovered gold in Coolgardie. The nugget weighed 16.8kg (37 pounds) and news of its discovery travelled around the world and started Western Australia’s goldrush. By 1898 Coolgardie was the third largest town in WA after Perth and Fremantle. This meant there were 15,000 residents and another 10,000 in the immediate area. Plus there were stockbrokers, 26 hotels, three breweries, four clubs, seven newspapers and 14 churches.
We enjoyed the Coolgardie vibe and hospitality.
A funny story
While looking at indigenous art we were given this outback pack by a local who said, “it’s for picking up rubbish and road kill. If its fresh – road kill – it makes for good eating!”
Must admit we haven’t done that, yet!