Kalgoorlie / Boulder, in the heart of the Western Australian goldfields, approximately 600 kilometres east of Perth, is a worthwhile place to visit.
As my wife and I discovered on our short stay there in May 2024, these twin towns are rich in history personified by the discovery of GOLD by prospector Patrick (Paddy) Hannan on 14 June 1893.
We had just enjoyed a national Conference in Perth for 5 nights and as a post conference tour we decided on Kalgoorlie/Boulder travelling there and back from Perth on the more than satisfactory Prospector train and staying three nights in the comfortable Quality Inn Railway opposite the Kalgoorlie Railway Station.
Two ‘must do’ places to visit and admire are the two heritage Town Halls – the Kalgoorlie Town Hall and the Boulder Town Hall (both built in 1908). Out of interest Boulder and Kalgoorlie were once separate twin towns with separate municipalities, but amalgamation took place on 27 January 1989 to form one municipality known as Kalgoorlie-Boulder with the sole ‘seat of power’ now being the Kalgoorlie Town Hall, where the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Visitors’ Centre is located. The Boulder Town Hall has been retained and is rich in history like its Kalgoorlie counterpart.
This review, however, will concentrate on extolling the virtues of the Kalgoorlie Town Hall on the corner of Wilson and Hannan Streets as seen through an excellent guided tour for a modest fee. The building was originally built as a theatre and officially opened on 8 November 1908. Its many beautiful architectural features include ornate pressed metal ceilings, chandeliers, and a most beautiful polished wood sweeping staircase with a delightful red carpet on each step.
The tour we did was very comprehensive and the guide was very knowledgeable offering good insights into all the great features of this impressive Federation Free Classical style building. Tours can be booked through the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Visitors’ Centre. It’s worth mentioning the Visitors’ Centre is located on the ground floor of this fine building. Here you get friendly advice about all the attractions and tours available in the region. I have reviewed this Centre separately
Here then are insights of my guided tour of the Kalgoorlie Town Hall -
“First cab off the rank” is the original, restored Paddy Hannan Statue created by sculptor John Macleod in 1929, located near the glass door front entrance on the ground floor at the base of the impressive polished wooden sweeping staircase. This original 99.9% copper statue is housed inside the Kalgoorlie Town Hall to keep it vandal proof. Outside the Visitors’ Centre’s entrance of the Town Hall on the footpath is a replica of this Statue commissioned in 1983, which doubles up as a novel public water drinking fountain with the tap neatly attached to Paddy’s waterbag.
Our tour continued on to the magnificent former Theatre within the building, passing interesting history posters depicting the history of the Town Hall along the way. Unfortunately little time was provided on our tour to be able to digest the facts contained in the posters adequately. And so to the magnificent Theatre with its stage and original red velvet silk curtain and an arch over the curtain in original paint colours. There is an impressive upper floor dress circle at the back of the Theatre accessed by stairs from the ground floor. Throughout its existence the Town Hall has continuously hosted important Goldfields civic and social events. It has been the venue for musical, vaudeville, and variety performances including fine talents such as Dame Nellie Melba and Percy Grainger.
An interesting aspect of the tour of the old Theatre was to go back stage, a large area which was highlighted by a fly tower with original theatre rigging, a system of ropes, pulleys, counterweights and related devices enabling a stage crew to fly (hoist) quickly, quietly and safely components such as curtains, lights, scenery, and stage effects. This was well explained to us by the guide.
Theatre tour over, we were then shown the Banquet room where official receptions are held, adorned with paintings on the walls (14 permanent artworks on display from the Sir Claude Hotchkins bequest, and other artworks by local artists).and delightful ceiling chandeliers. Before going up to the next floor via the beautiful staircase we pass the imposing C Y O’Connor pure white bust honouring Charles O’Connor (1843-1902) who in 1895 completed details of a plan to construct a 560km pipeline that would pump water from Mundaring to the Goldfields. The pipeline would be capable of supplying these communities with more than 20 million litres of water each day. O’Connor’s vision was realised but in the face of immense public opposition to his proposal at the time, sadly he took his own life before the pipeline was officially opened. Charles O’Connor is indeed one of Western Australia’s favourite sons. Another observed item of interest close by was the Olympic torch cauldron in a glass display case which was lit at Sir Richard Moore Oval, Kalgoorlie by local Olympian David Henneker as part of the Sydney 2000 Olympic torch replay.
On the first floor foyer is home to the Sporting Hall of Fame, where photographs of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s sporting heroes are on display, alongside artefacts and memorabilia of events and important occasions in the history of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. We entered the “inner sanctum” – the actual Council Chambers where the town council still meets today. What a privilege to have been given a rare look into the Councillors’ meeting place, admiring the delightful polished wood furnishings, interesting historic framed photographs adorning the walls, yet another memorial to the great C Y O’Connor and glass cabinets containing an array of interesting historical artefacts. From the Council Chambers the tour allowed us a look in the Mayor’s Parlour, a narrow room where Royalty and distinguished celebrities have dined, with all the former Mayors of the town displayed in framed photographs around the walls.
The last part of the tour gave us an opportunity to sit in one of the 224 sturdy, iron framed, red padded velvet seats in the dress circle of the Theatre. It was clear to us that these were indeed the best seats in the house. Seats 11 and 12 in front row A, I am informed were reserved for the Mayor and Mayoress. It was an opportunity just for a moment to let one’s thought processes run wild by imagining listening to the stirring , pure, operatic voice of the great Dame Nellie Melba in such palatial surroundings.
I will make a comment about the beautiful sweeping staircase which is such a prominent feature throughout the building. Our guide pointed out that of all the wooden railings making up this splendid piece of architecture, there was one that is different to the rest. It has been given two ornate carved endings whereas all the rest only have one. It smacks of a little bit of good humoured “civil disobedience” on the part of the builder wanting to leave a special mark on the structure so that he would always be remembered. That’s a neat story in itself.
As you can see there was a lot on offer by doing a tour of the Kalgoorlie Town Hall and for just $10 each or $8 senior concession in our case. It has to be one of the best value tours on offer anywhere and well worth the experience. My wife and I were totally enthralled throughout.