One of the reasons we came to Kalgoorlie was to look at the Superpit , unfortunately for us , it was closed due to a rockslide caused by an earth tremor , and until safe to continue work it was closed . Well today it reopened , so we headed up to the lookout . The carpark is huge , with enough area for over 100 vehicles , then there's the 100m walk to the viewing platform , whilst also checking out the old machinery used in the pit that's in another fenced off section further away again . Maybe they are trying to get you used to the scale of what you are about to see . This pit is 600m deep and 3.5klms long and 1.5klms wide - that's a bloody big hole in the ground !!!
The landslide that shut the mine down is visible , large chunks of rock 3 times the size of one of the tip trucks that carts the ore up & down the roads , are still perched on the side of the pit .
Fortunately the rock fall happened when all the workers were on a break . Tippers run up & down the access roads continuously , going downhill much faster than when they are coming back up .
The next 2 photos give some scale to the operation - down near the bottom of the pit is the access road , I have zoomed in to show a 4wd and a truck on the road . In the 2nd photo I have zoomed back out - it will be hard to see , but if you can zoom in on your computer / tablet etc , you will find the truck as a speck , below centre of the photo .
Here's a size comparison for the tippers .
A big excavator was working at the top of the pit , filling the tipper in just 5 scoops !!
This is one of the old buckets .
Yes that's me , yes that's shoes & socks and a jumper - there's a reason we like to be northward at this time of year hahaha !! One more shot of the superpit .
About 25klms northeast of Kalgoorlie is the ghost town of Kanowna , so we headed out there . After about 20 klms of nearly straight road we arrived at Kanowna Belle Gold Mine so we drove into the mine . There is a viewing area on the side of the gold processing plant for the general public to have a look . Here it is .
An elaborate processing plant to extract the gold from the rock that is holding it , and there are several of these plants in & around the Goldfields Region .
We set off to find the ghost town , driving past a couple of houses set back from the road . W turned around about 3klms down the road and found the town - what was left of it anyway - a sign for the courthouse and a pile of rocks . Then we found another track with some other signs and smaller piles of rock - unfortunately the signs have succumbed to the climate out here and those that hadn't rotted away had fallen off or had been taken - and that was the ghost town , not what we had pictured before leaving town to come out here . You could think we were a little bit less than impressed , you'd be right .
A cold front and some rain have slowed us down a bit , but I did manage to have a game of golf at Kalgoorlie Golf Club - rated No 17 in the top 100 public access golf courses in Australia !! Imagine if you will , green grass fairways & greens , surrounded by red soil & orange sand in the plentiful bunkers .
It was a great experience , let's say the golf course was the winner , better days ahead hehehe !
Here's a better shot of the Questa Casa Brothel where we did the tour the other day .
Hannan St is the main street of Kalgoorlie with many remarkable old buildings , most of which are in great condition , some however are showing their age , here's a selection .
This is the clock tower above the old Post & Telegraph Building , now being used as the Courthouse.
One of the many hotels in town .
And another .
And another .
And another .
Now some of the other buildings .
Heading out of town for another little drive , we went north to Broad Arrow . Broad Arrow consists of an hotel and 2 houses , but it's other neighbours were large and private - more gold mines - we passed at least 3 on the drive out - about 30klms .
On the way back into town we stopped at the Two Up Shed , where they play two up on Sundays . A very elaborate structure , we drove up to and around it and had a look inside .
Salmon Gums are prevalent here as well , here's just one .
That's it , you're all caught up , so here's a map link :- https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pzgjbMabFxkp2uIGjzVFIjXLU15c-qbj&usp=sharing
If you view the map link in satellite mode you can see a lot of the other mines in and around Kalgoorlie and the Goldfields area .
Cheers
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