Kalgoorlie/Boulder
Having explored Coolgardie on our first full day in Kalgoorlie we were free to explore the town where we were staying, A town with a current population of around 29,000 down from the peak of 32,000 but a town that had at one time 92 hotels, some of which still exist.
The main street appears to be wide enough to turn a bullock drawn wagon a full 180 degrees though these have long since disappeared from our roads, and the modern-day road train are mostly diverted from the main street.
Gold is still being mined here with some underground mines though the “Super Pit” is the main provider of Gold with some of the underground mines providing Nickel, a visit to the Super Pit is a must just to see the size, (did I say one visit, well at least one), we went to visit the mining Museum but were just a little late, though speaking to the staff who were going home we were informed that there was to be a BLAST that afternoon at 5:00pm that had me interested so our 1st visit to the viewing area, unfortunately there was a problem with the equipment and the blast was cancelled for the day, we could see the prepared blast area and thought it would be spectacular when it finally went ahead.
The following day Carol wanted to visit two town Halls (Yes two of them as one for each of the two towns of Kalgoorlie and Boulder as they were once independent towns.) one of which has one of only two remaining Goatcher Curtains in the world the other is somewhere in North America.
This curtain is a drop curtain with an elaborate painting by Phillip Goatcher and if you can it is a must see but unfortunately if there is any wind, they will not lower it as it is easily damaged, (on our first attempt we did not see it).
Visiting the Kalgoorlie town hall we were at first disappointed that we could not see it all as today was not one of the days when there were tours, but a little sweet talk and we were given a private tour by a very proud employee only too willing to show it off, but this is not where the Goatcher Curtain is, that is at the other town hall in Boulder, so off we head, to boulder but it was windy so no curtain, tomorrow is another day and the town hall opens in the afternoon.
We also found out that the blast will now go ahead about lunch time before the opening of the town hall so our 2nd visit to the super pit, this time there was a blast but not what I expected it was quite subdued with little sound and little to see (see photos in Superpit Photo Gallery), a little under-whelmed we then heads to Boulder Town Hall hoping for some more luck, hoping to see that curtain.
When we walked in there was no luck, but talking to the staff and noting that there was no wind they reassessed the situation and decided to lower the curtain and it remained down till it again started to swing due to the wind, but we had our photos.
Of the two towns it is quite apparent which of the two is flourishing and which is not doing so well even the op-shop has closed and that is Boulder which is a pity because some historic building are in need of some TLC and there is little money coming in to do the required work, but still well worth the visit.
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