Michael Batson

Once upon a time way out west, I went to Kalgoorlie by bus to work. Later I went back by rail for a visit. The town of about 30,000 is an isolated stop on the line across Western Australia where one stretch of railway runs completely straight for 478km – the longest straight stretch of rail line anywhere in the world. Kal’ to the locals, is over 600kms from the world’s most isolated city, Perth. From there to Adelaide, it’s 2700km – like travelling from London to Moscow with almost nothing in between. Tourists in Kalgoorlie are thin on the ground. People come from all over seeking the highly paid mining jobs. They work hard and play harder before moving on. Australia is making a fortune supplying raw materials to fuel Asia’s continued industrialisation and is home to half of the world’s largest mining company, BHP Billiton. Kalgoorlie itself is a grid of broad, tree-lined streets. The main street, Hannan Street, was designed wide enough to turn an entire camel train around, once a requirement in outback Australia. Kalgoorlie and its twin town, Boulder, boast an interesting collection of architectural styles, many unconventional. Expect to see curious blends of Victorian gold boom, Edwardian, Moorish, and Art Nouveau styles.  The turn-of-the-20th century styles have melded to produce a bizarre mix of ornate facades, colonnaded footpaths, recessed verandas, stuccoed walls, and general overstatement.   Camel train - back in the dayOn