About 59km south of Kalgoorlie, Kambalda is a mining ghost town that died with gold and came back to life with nickel. The town was born in 1887 with the discovery of gold and the establishment of the Red Hill mine, near the shores of the giant salt pan. Lake Lefroy. But the gold ran out by 1907.
Nearly 60 years later, Western Mining Corporation announced the discovery of a massive nickel deposit and the establishment of Australia’s first nickel mine at Kambalda.
Viewed from the modern mining town, with its twin centers 4km apart (after geologist found further nickel deposits in an area set aside for future growth), it is in marked contrast to the gold mining ghost towns so common in the area.
The original gold-mining town is Hunt’s Well and the graves of early pioneers in the cemetery are among the few reminders of the original town.
Daily coach services between Perth and the Eastern States pass through the town.
Photo courtesy: abc.net
