Kalgoorlie – Boulder is surrounded by some 40 ghost towns. These old gold rush settlements date from as early as 1892 and have all but disappeared, leaving little to mark their passing. 

Scott Wilson, President of the Eastern Goldfields Historical Society, will discuss the mindset of people who chose to head to these frontier towns, how the towns were formed, what happened to those who left and to the buildings left behind.

“The news of easy rich pickings lured thousands to make the journey from all parts of Australia and the world to the new and exciting Eastern Goldfields of WA,” Mr Wilson said.

“The continual quest for water, the heat and dust, health issues, transport, lack of facilities, and cost of living made it very tough for these hardy folk.

“Unlike the legendary mines of Boulder where the Super Pit still churns out its precious metal today, practically all of the gold mines that supported these new towns burned brightly and then gradually faded away. Most of the towns’ occupants packed up for newer finds that promised greener pastures and left loved ones in cemeteries and rusting remnants for us to ponder today.”

Mr Wilson is a prospector with over 30 years experience in the Goldfields. Having learnt tricks of the trade as well as fascinating gold rush stories from prospectors of old, his lecture will capture the exciting and formidable times of the ‘gold rush’ settlements in the Goldfields.

Mr Wilson’s lecture, Ghost towns in the Shire of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is part of The Harry Butler lecture series: In the Wild West and proudly presented by the WA Museum in partnership with Chevron Australia. The series showcases the work of Museum scientists, curators and associates in the areas of natural and social sciences.

LECTURE: Ghost towns in the Shire of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
WHEN: 5.30pm, Friday 10 June 2011
WHERE: Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Bolder, 17 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: 9021 8533
COST: By gold coin donation.

Renee Dodds, Western Australian Museum T: 9212 3860 M: 0414 381 761
Flora Perrella, Western Australian Museum T: 9212 3856 M: 0424 027 646 (before 3 June)