Glimpses of the past

Around Kalgoorlie many historic ghost mining towns are rusting away. Once vibrant communities were deserted overnight when the local mine ran dry and inhabitants caught the last train to Kalgoorlie, only to leave behind them eerie glimpses of the past.

xNature taking over - street in Kookynie

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Menzies roadhouse
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Derelict miner's cottage - Gwalia
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1911 wallpaper - Gwalia

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Restored shops - Gwalia
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Fence made of bedframes - Gwalia

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Kalgoorlie & the goldfields

Kalgoorlie and the surrounding outback have been the site of many goldrushes since the end of the 19th century. Some of the mines have long been closed, others like the Super Pit still operate today. Everywhere villages popped up next to a new mine, thrived as the number of inhabitants exploded and were abandoned from one day to the other when people simply packed their belongings and left a ghost town behind them.

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Today, Kalgoorlie has merged with neighbouring Boulder. Beautiful Victorian buildings line Hannan Street and right next to the city lies the enormous Super Pit, producing 28 tonnes of gold per year.

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The Exchange Hotel - Kalgoorlie

York Hotel - Kalgoorlie

Kalgoorlie Miner building (1900)

Boulder architecture

Boulder town hall

KCGM Super Pit, Australia's largest open cut gold mine (3.5km wide, 360m deep)

Giant haul trucks, each carrying 225 tonnes of blasted rock.

Looking like my old Matchbox toys

Only 1 in 6 trucks actually carries ore. Once processed, the gold is about the same size as a golf ball. The ant-like car at the back gives an idea of the scale.

Coastline of Esperance

Before heading inland to the outback around Kalgoorlie, we spent a day or two in Esperance at the southcoast of Western Australia: beautiful pristine snow-white beaches, a turquoise Southern Ocean and the occasional Southern Right Whale escaping the harsh winter of Antarctica.

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Lucky Bay - Cape Le Grand NP

Great Ocean Drive - Esperance

Black Cockatoos

Cave at Frenchman Peak - Cape Le Grand NP

Thistle Cave - Cape Le Grand NP

Wave Rock

One of Western Australia's photographic icons just outside Hyden, 350km from Perth. It's a long drive from anywhere but awesome pics make it all worth it.

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Porongurup & Stirling Ranges

Karri forest - Porongurup NP

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Balancing boulder near Nancy Peak - Porongurup NP

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View from Marmabup peak - Porongurup NP

Bluff Knoll, highest peak in the Stirling Range

Bluff Knoll summit - Stirling Range NP

Pink lake - near Lake Grace