KAMBALDA WA AN AUSTRALIAN PHOENIX OR GHOST TOWN

Kambalda, Western Australia
DON PUGH CARAVAN TRIP 2008
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Population: 4,259
Established: Kambalda East ( 1967-1973), Kambalda West (1969-1975)
Postcode: 6442
Location: 616 km (383 mi) from Perth
55 km (34 mi) from Kalgoorlie
130 km (81 mi) from Norseman
74 km (46 mi) from Coolgardie

LGA: Shire of Coolgardie
State District: Electoral district of Eyre
Federal Division: Kalgoorlie
Coordinates: 31°12′07″S 121°40′05″E / 31.202°S 121.668°E / -31.202; 121.668
Kambalda is a small mining town about 60 kilometres from the mining city of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, within the Goldfields. It is split into two townsites 4 kilometres apart, Kambalda East and Kambalda West; and is located on the western edge of a giant salt lake, Lake Lefroy.

Kambalda was discovered from a huge mining boom which triggered prospectors from all over Western Australia to come flowing into Kambalda. Kambalda's first modern settlement was located at the base of nearby Red Hill in 1897. The original Red Hill settlement owed its existence to Percy Larkin, a prospector who discovered gold in the area. For many years Kambalda was mined for its gold but soon after nickel was discovered. [1][2]


History
Kambalda is a small mining town surrounded by desert approximately 75 kilometres southeast of Coolgardie and 616 kilometres east of Perth. Kambalda was also known to be within the tribal land of the indigenous Galaagu people. Kambalda's determination to keep as much native flora as possible separates them from other similar mining towns. Kambalda West is approximately 4km from Kambalda East and is the location of the tourist bureau and the shire offices.[3][4]

The original settlement of Kambalda grew up in the area after Percy Larkin discovered gold in 1887. The Red Hill Gold Mine was relatively short-lived. It was closed by 1907 and the small settlement had become a ghost town. One memory of the original town is the old well in George Cowcill Street. [5]

New interest in the area occurred in 1954 when George Cowcill took samples of what he thought was uranium. Later analysis found large deposits of nickel and by 1966 Western Mining Corporation had established Australia's first nickel mine. It is fair to describe Kambalda East and Kambalda West as Australia's first nickel mining towns. Apart from the Red Hill Lookout, with its views over Lake Lefroy, and the opportunity to drive across the causeway the towns have very little appeal to visitors.


[edit] Present day
The first mining company that established the town, Western Mining Corporation (WMC) has been bought and taken over by a larger company that has stations all over the world, BHP Billiton. In the 20th century more facilities have been erected all over Kambalda, East and West, such as a public pool, football field, Woolworths food facility, single-mens quarters, memorial garden, country club, nursing post, tennis club and a lot more. At west a recreation centre is under construction for the public's entertainment purposes, and a retirement village. An industrial area has also been made.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• KAMBALDA
• WA
• AN
• AUSTRALIAN
• PHOENIX
• OR
• GHOST
• TOWN

[DON434]

thanks, very cheap

[onyachamp]

grew up in west. going back this weekend. will post some footage

[fowlrooster]

It's the Braveheart soundclip! Moving there in a few weeks to work underground. Hope it works out!

[jaydagrace5508]

lol i used to live down new clayton st. i was a student councillor at kambalda primary in 2001 and my cousin was head girl

[ashtrain007]

Great Video Don

Good too see some positives about the old Nickel Queen.

There is a lot of people out there who wouldn't as well off as they are now if they didn't spend any time in Kambalda

[Rocky9027]

GO KAMBALDA! u rock! luv ya! thumps up 4 kambalda peepz!

[fuzzy1234able]

I live in Kambalda in New clayton st.

and zYumiz u should ride on the salt lake with a 250cc

[zYumiz]

hmmm kambalda's pretty good town lived there once whn i was a kid gotta miss the salt lake :D and the red hill lookout

[shakaka84]

Mate not a bad doco but lose the music it is miserable and dreary and if you have ever been there or had anything to do with the town long term you would know that it is up and down, but all in all a good place to grow up and earn good money.

[rhino1979au]

houses are more expensive... we brought a 4 bed renovated home for 75,000 5 years back.. when it was cheap..