Kambalda

Goldfields / Western Australia

Kambalda is located 55 km south of Kalgoorlie and 130 km north of Norseman and was Australia’s first nickel town, built by Western Mining in the 1960s.

Kambalda's first modern settlement was located at the base of nearby Red Hill in 1897. The settlement of Red Hill was due to a prospector named Percy Larkin discovering gold in the area. Over the next ten years the gold field produced 30,000 ounces of gold. By 1908, Red Hill's gold fields had become depleted and the settlement was reverted to native bushland.

In 1954, two prospectors - Morgan and Cowcill found an unusual rock specimen which they presented to the Kalgoorlie School of Mines. The school identified the specimen as "Gossan" - a green nickel bearing ore. Ten years later, Morgan and Cowcill took their specimen to the Western Mining Corporation (WMC) and soon after WMC began exploratory drilling in the area it was found. By 1966, Kambalda's Silver Lake Mine had commenced production, triggering Australia's great nickel boom of the 1960s. Presently, Kambalda still relies on the nickel mining for its prosperity.

Red Hill Lookout

This lookout can be accessed via Gordon Adams Road. Here you can find a bush walking trail - with undercover picnic tables along the way - which leads to a wonderful view of Lake Lefroy and Kambalda East.