Norseman is the eastern gateway to Western Australia, the first major town encountered by travelers crossing the Nullarbor from the Eastern States. The town, set amid woodland of slender eucalypts dotted y shimmering salt lakes, owes its existence to pastoralists, gold miners and a horse! Surveyor John Septimus Roe first explored the area in 1848, pastoralists followed him, and the discovery of gold in 1892 brought the first prospectors.
Then in 1894, prospector Laurie Sinclair’s horse, Norseman, stumbled over a large gold nuggets, discovering the first of a series of rich quartz reefs. To commemorate its important part in Norseman’s history, a statue of the horse now stands near the center of town. The Norseman area is second only to Kalgoorlie’s Golden Mile in the volume of gold produced, and mining continues.
Nearly a century of gold mining has given Norseman its most striking feature—a 40 meter-high, flat-topped “mesa” on the edge of town made up of mine tailings. The tailings are estimated to contain some $50 million worth of gold. Tours of the central Norseman Gold Corporation’s spectacular open-cut and underground mine are available, while many old mine workings can be inspected around the town. Visitors who hope to find their own gold (and perhaps emulate the horse Norseman) can get a Miner’s Right and advice from the Mines Department on where to go fossicking amongst the old mine workings. Fossicking for gemstones is also popular with visitors and locals—permits are available from the Tourist Bureau.
Beacon Hill Lookout, on the outskirts of Norseman, gives a sweeping view of the mines, ancient salt lakes, surrounding gypsum hills and the Jimberlana Dyke, reputed to be one of the oldest geological areas in the world. Norseman, at the junction of The Golden Way and the Eyre Highway (National Route I), lies approximately halfway between Perth and the South Australian order. Highway I continues south from Norseman to the coast at Esperance. Daily coach services from all State capitals pass through Norseman. There is also one flight a week from Kalgoorlie and Esperance.
South-west of Norseman are the Peak Charles an Frank Hann National Parks, both of which features attractive wild flower displays in spring. Peak Charles, a highly weathered granite mountain, gives panoramic mountain, gives panoramic views of the surrounding bushland from its lookout—other parts of the peak are popular with experienced rock climbers. Bothe national parks have minimal facilities, and travelers need to be totally self-sufficient.
Photo courtesy: flickr
