Kalgoorlie Mines

Weather was a bit better, so off we went first to The Super Pit and then to The Mining Hall of Fame. Paddy Hannon found some nuggets laying around in 1893 around Kalgoorlie and the race was on. Multiple mines have coalesced and now form The Super Pit. One of the most productive gold mining operations in the world. Pictures do not do the site justice. From the look out the trucks look like ants when in fact they are mammoth in size.

It is really remarkable in it's immensity and the industry of the work. We then went to the museum, where all were in costume for Halloween. Mining and ghosts and goblins.


Garth took us under his wing. A former dental technician, he was drifting through Kalgoorlie came to the museum and changed careers. Per his account, he had to learn how to talk to people, plus learn a lot of mine facts. It is interesting to see the evolution of the mine equipment from yesteryear to today. From large to bigger than belief.





We got to see a gold pour. They take 35 oz of gold, melt and pour into a bar mold. The same gold is used over and over, melt, pour and remelt 3 times a day. Richard our guide for the process is married to the woman who sells tickets who was dressed as a devil. She had wanted him to dress up. He soundly refused.

Two plunges in cold water and our brick of gold was cool enough to hold.


Alas no souvenirs, we had to give it back. There are lovely gardens planted in honor of the Chinese who died in the Australian goldfish. I guess I was into the machinery as no pictures of flowers.
Tomorrow is November 1st. It is Melbourne Cup Day. Apparently all of Australia stops for this event. We scoped our place to watch. We will be at The Picadilly, what looks to be a local bar. We have made our reservations.
Happy Halloween
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Kalgoorlie western Australia