Unique Places in State of Western Australia

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Siberia and Ora Banda are just two of the many ghost towns that can be found scattered around the Eastern Goldfields region that centres on Kalgoorlie, 600km east of Perth.

All were founded in the heady days of the Western Australian goldrush of the 1890s. Some, like Siberia, gazetted as a township in 1898, have no buildings at all to show that once there was a sizable town here, with two hotels, a hospital and its own doctor. The first gold was found here in October 1893 and soon several mines were operating. Land for a townsite to be named to be named either Waverley or Siberia was set aside. The locals chose Siberia, taking the name from Siberia Tank, a nearby water supply for the area. No-one really knows quite why such a hot place was named thus but the story goes "A swagman struck the track near here and cut on a tree the words: To Hell or Siberia."

Ora Banda (Spanish for 'Band of Gold") has more to show for its 100 year history - the solidly built sandstone pub is still open for business and although little else remains a story board tells visitors something of the town's history. As with Siberia, gold was found here in 1893 and by 1910 2000 people were living here, with a police station, post office, school and Catholic church just some of the amenities of the town. Thanks to some good "shows" (finds of gold seams) the mine remained open until the 1970s.

Siberia is 80km from Kalgoorlie , Ora Banda is closer, 66 km from town .

The sense of times past at the old Yarloop Workshops (125km south of Perth, signposted off the main highways to Bunbury) is palpable. As you walk through the complex of sheds and workshops you would swear the knock-off whistle had just blown and the men who once worked here had all just left. It's nearly 30 years since the workshops closed down though, and the wonderful collection of steamdriven engines housed here only fire up for the steam days held here from March to November (2nd Sunday of the month). The workshops themselves are open daily from 10-4 .

The great forests of WA's south-west yield magnificent timber and there was once a whole network of railway lines that serviced the timber mills that operated throughout the region. Whilst most of the engines and milling machinery came from England, the industry depended on the workshops to keep them running as well as to build and adapt others. The Yarloop complex , with its stores and sheds, forge and workshops - all still full of tools, machines, patterns, huge whim wheels - everything that needed to keep the mills working, is a fascinating place. There is even the lending library that provided the men and their families with access to literature and learning. This is industrial archaeology at its best.

A really great way to see the bush is to take a ride through it, and there's nowhere better to do this than on Cape Naturaliste. A bush ride will take you across ridges with wonderful views out to sea, down deep gullies filled with wildflowers, and perhaps even onto the beach. You don't have to be an experienced rider and you will get a fantastic feel for the bush. Go early in the morning or for a twilight ride and you may see even kangaroos.

Meelup Beach, a few kilometres out of Dunsborough on the Cape Naturaliste Road is without a doubt one of the most beautiful beaches you will ever see. The forest comes right down to a crescent of fine, white sand; the sheltered, brilliant turquoise water always seems to be the right temperature for swimming; there's shady grass for picnicking on, barbecues to cook on (watch out for thieving kookaburras) or you can walk up through the bush to a nearby vineyard for a leisurely lunch; and for those feeling like a little more exercise there is an excellent bush trail, the Meelup Coastal Track.

The Valley of the Giants is part of Walpole-Nornalup National Park in the southert part of WA, 15 km from Walpole.

The Tree Top Walk is a 420m long steel-truss elevated walkway which leads over the canopy of the red tingle forest. It is built on the side of a natural valley, so it's not steep, still the highest point is about 40m above the ground.

It is the locals nude beach. Perth beaches are beautiful, and this one is no exception. You just go and sit, take your clothes off, do whatever you want. No-one cares, so why should you? Plus it is right near the city, and there are cafe's and restaurants nearby. You feel stupid the first time you go, then you just want to go back all the time.
It was our local beach, and now we are in Seattle we are really going to miss it.
I would put in a pic, but my wife wouldnt like it!

There are many easy walks through the Tingle forest near Walpole. One will take you to the giant Tingle Tree where you may spot a kookaburra along the way.

Walpole is located 423 kms southeast of Perth in the heart of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park.

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The historic and important gold-mining twin city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is a 600km drive from Perth - which does put it out of the reach of lots of visitors. One sight not to be missed by those who do make it this far however is the lookout over the massive mining operation known as the Super Pit. This vast open-cut gold mining operation is the result of the bringing together of all the individual gold-mines that once operated along what was once the "Golden Mile" that had been in operation for the 100 years since Paddy Hannan first discovered gold here in 1893. Since then over 50 million ounces of gold have been taked from this one small strip of land - one of only 4 mines in the world to have yielded such riches. The single pit that we see today is 3 km long, 1.5 km wide and nearly 400 metres deep. It is fully expected to be 600 metres deep within the next few years.

Operating around the clock, the pit itself is hardly tourist territory but you can get an excellent overview from the lookout. It is an amazing sight with huge trucks looking like tiny toys as they inch their way down the terraces. It all becomes even more dramatic at night as work continues under a blaze of lights.

Short of flying over it, the only way you'll get a shot of the whole pit is to do as I've done here - take a photo of one of the display boards.

Address: Hainault Road, off the Goldfields Highway - it's very well sign-posted

The Lookout is open daily 7.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m. Temporary closure may occur during mine blasts