The Goldfields is a truly fascinating region steeped in history and legend.In June 1893, a prospector named Patrick Hannan with two others named Tom Flanagan and Daniel Shea Headed east from Coolgardie. They set up camp where the present Mount Charlotte is located and managed to collect over a hundred ounces of gold in a few days.
Word of their good fortune soon spread sparking one of the largest gold rushes in Australia. But life in this harsh brown land was hard and the lack of water aggravated the situation making water more precious than the gold.
In 1903, C.Y.O'Connor built a pipeline from Perth to Kalgoorlie bringing much needed water from the Mundaring Weir located in the hills near Perth.
The "Super Pit" is mined by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines and is the largest producer of gold in Australia and the sixth largest producer in the world. It is more than 260 meters (852 feet) deep, 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) wide and 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) long. Other minerals mined in the Goldfields include nickel, uranium and copper.
The Goldfields is also the gateway to one of Australia's great road journeys as you drive across The Nullarbor on the Eyre Highway. Stop at the Great Australian Bight and marvel at the sweeping coastline... rugged and spectacular.
Meckering in 1968 recorded the worst earthquake to hit West Australia measuring 6 on th Richter Scale. 75% of the small town was reduced to rubble and holes measuring two meters wide had opened up in the walls of the remaining buildings. The shock wave was felt over an area of 850 kilometers.
Great Australian Bight
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