Kambalda, Western Australia
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Kambalda Western Australia |
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Kambalda Office and Library
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 Kambalda
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| Coordinates | 31°12′S 121°40′E / 31.2°S 121.67°ECoordinates: 31°12′S 121°40′E / 31.2°S 121.67°E |
| Population | 2,705 (2006 census) |
| Established | Kambalda East ( 1967-1973) Kambalda West (1969-1975) |
| Postcode(s) | 6442 |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Coolgardie |
| State electorate(s) | Kalgoorlie |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Kambalda is a small mining town about 60 kilometres from the mining city of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, within the Goldfields. It is split into two townsites 4 kilometres apart, Kambalda East and Kambalda West; and is located on the western edge of a giant salt lake, Lake Lefroy. At the 2006 census, Kambalda had a population of 2,705.
Kambalda was discovered from a huge mining boom which triggered prospectors from all over Western Australia to come flowing into Kambalda. Kambalda's first modern settlement was located at the base of nearby Red Hill in 1897. The original Red Hill settlement owed its existence to Percy Larkin, a prospector who discovered gold in the area. For many years Kambalda was mined for its gold but soon after nickel was discovered.
Kambalda is a small mining town, in a semi-arid environment, approximately 75 kilometres southeast of Coolgardie and 616 kilometres east of Perth. Kambalda was also known to be within the tribal land of the indigenous Galaagu people. Kambalda's determination to keep as much native flora as possible separates them from other similar mining towns. Kambalda West is approximately 4 km from Kambalda East and is the location of the tourist bureau and the shire offices.
The original settlement of Kambalda grew up in the area after Percy Larkin discovered gold in December 1896. The town was officially gazetted on 10 December 1897 and laid out by the Government surveyor, W. Rowley, who chose the name 'Kambalda' The Red Hill Gold Mine, which began operations in 1897, was relatively short-lived. It was closed by 1907 and the small settlement had become a ghost town. One memory of the original town is the old well in George Cowcill Street.
New interest in the area occurred in 1954 when George Cowcill took samples of what he thought was uranium. Later analysis found large deposits of nickel and by 1966 Western Mining Corporation had established Australia's first nickel mine. It is fair to describe Kambalda East and Kambalda West as Australia's first nickel mining towns. Apart from the Red Hill Lookout, with its views over Lake Lefroy, and the opportunity to drive across the causeway the towns have very little appeal to visitors. Kambalda is known for its feral goats.
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Wikipedia