What Is The Largest City In The Australian Outback?
Kalgoorlie is considered to be the largest city in the Australian Outback, with a population of about 30,000 people and a land size spanning over 95,000km². A rural town built on the famous gold rush of the early 1900s, it’s rich not only with precious gold and minerals, but also a colourful history, festivals, culture and charm that you can only find in the iconic Australian desert.
This article is your travel guide to everything you need to know before you go to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
WHERE IS KALGOORLIE?
Situated on the western edge of the Great Victoria Desert, you’ll find Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. Esperance being a popular coastal town, is also encompassed in the greater area. Typical of a desert location, Kalgoorlie is characterised by its arid outback landscape, peppered with open cut mining pits, rich in natural reserves.
HOW FAR IS KALGOORLIE FROM PERTH?
Kalgoorlie is located about 600km east-northeast from Perth and the West Australian coastline. The drive from Perth to Kalgoorlie is roughly 6 to 7 hours by car or 8 hours by bus, depending on the road and traffic conditions and how frequently you stop to take a rest. It's recommended by Australian road standards that you stop every two hours to minimise the risk of driver fatigue. Flying into Kalgoorlie from Perth is about a 1 to 1.5 hour flight duration.
HOW TO GET TO KALGOORLIE?
Depending on your personal situation, there are several ways to get to Kalgoorlie. Assuming you are travelling from Perth, you can opt to do a road trip via the Great Eastern Highway, stopping at interesting places on your route through the Outback. Flying by plane is the quickest way to reach Kalgoorlie with regional airlines operating frequently from Perth. The Indian Pacific scenic train is a unique mode of travel offering a memorable experience through vast expanses of arid Australian terrain. Or a more economical way is to catch the bus with several coach companies offering services between Perth and Kalgoorlie.
KALGOORLIE WEATHER
Kalgoorlie weather is typical of what you would experience in many other desert and inland destinations of Outback Australia. You’ll likely find a semi-arid climate with hot harsh summers and cool winters where temperatures can plummet overnight, depending on the season.
Here's a list of the weather conditions you can expect throughout the year in Kalgoorlie.
Summer (December to February)
Summer in Kalgoorlie is hot and dry, with temperatures often exceeding 35°C (95°F) during the day. Heatwaves are common and temperatures can sometimes reach above 40°C (104°F). The nights are warm to hot, with temperatures usually staying above 20°C (68°F).
Autumn (March to May)
Autumn brings milder temperatures and pleasant weather. Daytime temperatures gradually decrease from high 20s°C (around 80°F) to mid-20s°C (around 70°F) by May. Nights become cooler, ranging from 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 59°F).
Winter (June to August)
Winter in Kalgoorlie is cool to cold, with daytime temperatures averaging around 15°C to 20°C (59°F to 68°F). Nights can be chilly, often dropping below 5°C (41°F), especially in June and July. Rainfall is minimal during winter.
Spring (September to November)
Spring sees a gradual warming trend, with daytime temperatures rising from the high teens to the mid-20s°C (around 70°F). Nights are cool at the beginning of spring but become milder as the season progresses. September and October are relatively dry months.
WHAT IS THERE TO DO IN KALGOORLIE?
Despite being in a remote, country area, Kalgoorlie has its fair share of events, cultural experiences and activities catering to all sorts of interests. From exploring the fascinating mining history and museums, to joining an outback adventure discovering the surrounding terrain on a 4WD tour, here’s a quick list of things to do in Kalgoorlie.
- Visit the public lookout of the Super Pit, Australia’s largest open-pit gold mine
- Explore the historic mining museums
- Do an historic walking tour of the city, admiring heritage buildings preserved in time
- Have a punt at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club (popular in autumn and spring)
- Take a day trip to Lake Ballard to see the steel statues scattered across the vast salt lake plain
- Go on a 4WD Outback Adventure to see the beautiful, rugged landscapes and spot native animals
- Sample some of the regions delicacies in cuisine and wine with kangaroo, emu and Aussie bush foods on the menu
- Pay tribute to the mining heritage at the annual St. Barbara’s Festival, usually held in November.
WHAT IS KALGOORLIE BEST KNOWN FOR?
Kalgoorlie is best known for its rich gold mining history and being home to one of the biggest open-cut mines in the world, the “Super Pit”. The town is also known as the largest city in the Australian Outback with over 30,000 residents living and working here. It boasts many well-preserved historical buildings and sites. Even still to this day, gold mining is the main driver of the economy in this rural country town.
HOW MANY PUBS USED TO BE IN KALGOORLIE?
Back during the days of the Gold Rush in the early 1900s, Kalgoorlie was famous for having 93 pubs, also known as hotels, and 8 active breweries. Being a heavily male-dominated industry, socialising at the local watering hole was a common recreational activity when the workers weren’t mining for gold. Today, the number of pubs has decreased dramatically to around 14, some being historical relics, retaining a slice of the town’s vibrant history.
IS IT GOOD TO LIVE IN KALGOORLIE?
Living in Kalgoorlie can definitely be a unique and interesting experience depending on the person and their lifestyle preferences. Some of the pros can include being part of a close-knit rural community, economic opportunities from the mining industry and more affordable housing than some of the largest capital cities in Australia. On the other hand, cons could be adjusting to the outback climates, living in a remote location and limitations on access to services like health and education. It’s important to weigh up the considerations when thinking about living in a rural town.
IS KALGOORLIE WORTH VISITING?
There’s no denying that Australia’s largest outback city is full of interesting things to do. From a golden history to a colourful present, Kalgoorlie fascinates visitors with its alluring, country-town charm, heritage buildings, unique adventures and iconic attractions. If you enjoy learning about Australian Outback history and have the time, it’s definitely worth considering a trip to Kalgoorlie if you're planning a journey through Western Australia.
