The post Red Hill Lookout appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>The Red Hill lookout in Kambalda East is prominent feature in the mining landscape.
Just a short walk to the older electrical tower gives you fantastic views over Lake Lefroy and the many mines scattered around it. The lookout remains the closest that its possible to get to the gold and nickel mines beyond.
Lake Lefroy covers roughly 510 km2 and is one of many salt lakes that have formed in this dry environment. They are created when the water in the lake evaporates, leaving thick layers of salts and other minerals behind. The lake was named after Henry Lefroy, one of the first expedition leaders to travel out this far, initially looking for suitable farmland in 1863.
Red Hill formed the centre of some of the first gold rushes in this area, with the precious ore being found in many of its gullies. The old Red Hill mine was discovered in 1896-97 and the Red Hill Gold Syndicate Limited soon formed, acquiring 10 leases. This mine is now part of the Beta Hunt complex.
Access is free to everyone. Some sections of the track are very steep and rocky in places.
There is a small free carpark.
King, N. (1976). Gold Finds Near Kambalda.
Mindat. (n.d.). Beta Hunt Mine. Retrieved January 9, 2022, from https://www.mindat.org/loc-266303.html
Shire of Coolgardie. (n.d.). Signs at Red Hill.
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]]>In the April of 1893, famous prospector Billy Frost discovered gold in an area that would first come to be known as Ninety Mile and later Goongarrie.
By May of the same year, Frost and many others had started to stake claims in the area, starting the formation of yet another outback town. Within two years a number of shops, hotels and a post office had sprung up. However, like the nearby towns of Siberia and Davyhurst, this was short lived and many of the plucky prospectors had abandoned the area again just ten years later. By 1903 only 66 folks were left.
All that remains of this town today are three of its railway cottages. These belonged to the railway that ran from Kalgoorlie to Menzies (built 1897-98) and even had its own dedicated station. This was demolished, along with several other cottages in 1926.
The three houses are just off the Goldfields Highway and are free to visit.
There is ample free parking.
Signs at Goongarrie Railway Cottages. (n.d.).
https://ourgems.com.au/directory/goongarrie-railway-cottages/
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]]>Not far off the Victoria Rocks Road is Gnarlbine Soak.
Gnarlbine Soak started life as a simple watering hole, being used as a vital water source for local Aboriginal people. During Henry Lefroy’s travels to the Kambalda area in 1863s, he ‘discovered’ a number of waterholes, and while Gnarlbine was never mentioned, he most certainly passed through the area.
One year later, Charles Hunt began his own expedition in search of agricultural land and came upon the soak, naming in Gnarlbine. Over the next few days the well was sunk further and the wall stoned up to make it more permanent; this was improved over the course of two more trips to the area.
This watering hole became an important stopping point for many explorers and prospectors to follow, becoming an instrumental lifeline for the Goldfields before the inception of the Golden Pipeline.
Access is free. The road from Coolgardie is uncapped and may not be suitable for all vehicles.
There is parking at the site.
Epton, K. (2019). Gnarlbine Soak. http://www.adventures.net.au/information/gnarlbine
WA Museum. (2017). Getting Water. https://museum.wa.gov.au/explore/wa-goldfields/water-arid-land/getting-water
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]]>The post Kambalda Pioneer Graveyard appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>Initially known as Red Hill Cemetery until the name Kambalda was gazetted in 1897, this small pioneer graveyard with five individual graves. However, a mystery surrounds this cemetery as two of the graves belong to one person.
Elizabeth Prentice ‘Gaunt’
Died 23rd December 1899 from serious burn injuries thought to be caused by an overturned kerosene lamp. She died at the Commercial Hotel in Kambalda.
William Wenzell
Died 1st June 1897 (or the 2nd), Wenzell was a 65 year old German who who ran a small store in Red Hill. He likely passed away from ‘inflammation of the lungs’. His was the first grave dug in this small graveyard.
Edward Hassell or Clayton
Died 12th May 1905 from suicide at the age of 40. This supposedly occurred while he was suffering from temporary insanity following the death of his wife.
Just prior to his death he intrusted two letters to another miner, Henry Colley on the Shotover Lease, one addressed to his mother in Victoria and the other to the police, the contents of which expressed his wish to commit suicide. A short while later, Mr Colley heard an explosion and upon investigation found the remains of Edward.
George Eupeli
Died 13th June 1904 at Butterfly mine, either due to a mining accident or a heart attack
The graveyard is fenced off, but very easy to see from the ground around it.
There is parking available along the road.
Coolgardie Miner (1897) ‘William Wenzel’, 8 June. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/216697660?searchTerm=william wenzel (Accessed: 25 July 2021).
Coolgardie Miner (1905) ‘Suicide at Red Hill’, 15 May, p. 2. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/217431554?searchTerm=suicide red hill (Accessed: 25 July 2021).
Find A Grave (2010) George Eupeli (unknown-1904). Available at: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53926324/george-eupeli (Accessed: 25 July 2021).
Kalgoorlie Western Argus (1905a) ‘Sensational Suicide at Red Hill’, 16 May. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/33020377?searchTerm=suicide red hill (Accessed: 25 July 2021).
Kalgoorlie Western Argus (1905b) ‘The Red Hill Suicide’, 16 May. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/33020667?searchTerm=suicide red hill (Accessed: 25 July 2021).
Sharp, M. (2016) Red Hill Cemetery (Kambalda), Outback Family History. Available at: https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/red-hill-cemetery-kambalda-grave-tales/ (Accessed: 25 July 2021).
The Sun (Kalgoorlie, WA) (1905) ‘Late Edward Hassell’, 28 May, p. 6. Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/211478950?searchTerm=edward hassell (Accessed: 25 July 2021).
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