👻The Golden Ghost Town of Gwalia, Leonara, WA 👻

On our recent trip exploring country towns of Western Australia, we were recommended a visit to Gwalia in Leonara. Around a 2 ½ hour drive from Kalgoorlie, maybe a bit more with a stop on the way. It was well worth the drive to see this fascinating ghost town. We had a beautiful day for our visit after yesterday’s grey and gloomy day. At the bottom of this post there is a short history.

We first went up the museum to have a look around at the top and to view the mine and managers’ buildings. The husband of the lady running the gift shop and information centre is the restorer of all the buildings.

  • A view of the town from the road

A mural painted by the artist Roderick Sprigg in 2018 who grew up in Gwalia. He actually painted the corrugated effect as well.

The head frame made of Oregon Pine in 1899.

The mine at present

The tram used from Gwalia to Leonara
  • Old engine boiler

  • Hoover House

  • Verandah of Hoover House

A view of Mt. Leonara from the verandah

Hoover House is now a bed and breakfast and also serves Devonshire teas on the verandah

Inside Hoover House

The Ghost Town

The miners and their families tried to make the best with what little they had. It must have been boiling in the summer and freezing in the winter. These are some of the homes below of the outside and inside.

  • The Pink House

Patroni’s guesthouse – while some miners had their own homes many were single men who boarded here. Families often ate their meals here if they had no kitchen facilities.

An entertainment room, the piano looks in need of an urgent tune up and repair

The State Hotel built in 1903 and once I imagine a grand old building. It was built to give the town a licensed premise and to lessen the “sly-grog” trade.

Short History of Gwalia

In 1896 a gold reef was discovered by prospectors. It was originally named Sons of Gwalia which signifies the Welsh heritage of the investors.

In 1897 110 miners were employed at the mine and in 1898 Herbert Hoover (the 31st president of the USA) was appointed as mine manager, working for only six months here.

By 1901 – 1903 the goldmine is thriving and surpassing its predicted production. By now 884 people live here and a school opens. Also a tram service established between Gwalia and Leonara.

1914-1918 many men leave to enlist in WW1.

1919 – it is now the deepest mine in Australia.

1921 – 1929 – A fire destroys the power station and mill and reconstruction works commence. Herbert Hoover becomes President of the USA (1929).

1939 – 1945 – WW2. The Italian miners employed at the time were interred and the mine is now operating at a loss.

1963 – On the 28th December the mine closes, there was a mass exodus of most of the people, abandoning their homes and many belongings.

1964 – The population drops from 1,200 to 40.

1983 – The mine was reopened and is still a going concern today.

Gwalia Mine – For more information

Thanks so much for reading and travelling with me to this unique place. I hope you have enjoyed the photos and history!

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Author: Alison

Hi A nanny of two and a mum of two adult children, mum to two fur babies and wife of one. I love to travel and up until recently travelled the world, now exploring Western Australia! I play bridge, board games, read dance and blog in my spare time.

28 thoughts on “👻The Golden Ghost Town of Gwalia, Leonara, WA 👻”

  1. A captivating insight into the past, Alison. The miner’s accommodation wouldn’t do for the hotel trade, would it? We don’t know how lucky we are!

  2. Very interesting Alison to view where the miners lived and the remains of the gold town. Hoover House looks attractive with its veranda. I wonder if, in normal times, it gets many visitors.

    1. Thanks for reading Marion, I think it’s what’s on the trail if the grey nomads! Old people travelling round Australia 😂 as there were heaps of caravans

  4. Great post! So interesting to explore around this old mining town. I can’t imagine living in such place as that and how hard that must have been.

    1. Thanks for your lovely comments Meg. I stood in those small houses and just couldn’t imagine living there. Very harsh conditions

  6. When I read the title I automatically interpreted WA as Washington state here in the US… needless to say I was a little confused 😂 What a fascinating place! Reading about things like this always reminds me how much history exists in this world and the fact that I’m totally clueless about 99% of it.

    1. Thanks for your comments Diana, I thought about putting the whole words in. It’s a bit confusing. I love to find out about obscure history and people instead of just the famous stuff. 🙂

  9. Loved all your travel photo and history Alison. The Pit photos really gave a good perspective.

  10. I can’t begin to imagine how difficult it would have been to live in one of those corrugated iron houses in the middle of summer. How ghastly. By comparison, Hoover House looks like a lovely place to stay.

    1. Yes it would have been pretty harsh, I suppose he was the manager! Although he never lived in the house, I believe he took his wife Lou Henry there on their honeymoon
      Thanks for your comments Carol 🙂

    1. I think life was very hard for farmers and miners alike with the harsh climate and disease.
      Thanks for your comments 🙂

  12. That mine is massive! And I loved your photos of the old houses – I would be in my camera-touting element there 🙂

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