Gold Coast
Gorgeous beaches, thumping nightclubs, excellent theme parks, and plenty of accommodations make the Gold Coast Australia’s premier holiday destination. The region’s permanent population of 390,000 triples to 1.2 million every summer as Australian and foreign tourists flock to the sun, sand, and parties. The term “Gold Coast” has a few possible origins, each of which addresses the its lure. Tourist officials say it’s for the stretches of golden sand beaches; cynics point to high rises and tacky tinsel glitter; realists note the high concentration of visitors in their golden years, mainly in the towns north and south of pulsing Surfers Paradise. You can find personal space by the shore, but forget about it back in the grid. The little-explored but rewarding Gold Coast Hinterland, full of clean rustic towns and rainforested national parks, is a stark contrast from the unashamed artificiality of the coast. While some may find an extended stay culturally dulling, the glitz, noise, and tanning opportunities that comprise the (“oast’s siren song ensure that passing travelers will succumb, if only briefly, to the well-hyped thrill.
Related Travel Information
Perth Mint
Established in 1899, this is Australia’s oldest operating mint and located at 310 Hay Street. It now specialises in the production of silver, gold and platinum commemorative coins and medals. There is a museum, and you can see a demonstration of gold pouring here. You can hold an ingot worth $200,000 (borrowing not permitted) and see the world’s largest collection of natural gold nuggets. The museum is open daily from 9 - 4 and 1pm at weekends.
Norseman
The town named after a horse. Gold, the magic metal, put Norseman on the map in 1894 when prospector Laurie Sinclair stopped off to visit his brother on his way to Esperance. He tethered his horse "Hardy Norseman" overnight and in the morning was amazed to discover that it had pawed up a gold nugget. A rich gold reef was discovered on the already proclaimed Dundas Field and thousands flocked to make their fortune. Today gold remains of major importance to Norseman which still has a population of some 1,800 people, most of whom still depend on the mining
Sunshine and Fbaser Coasts
The pastel yellow that permeates the Sunshine Coast contrasts sharply with the Gold Coast's pulsating neon. The Sunshine Coast, in many ways, is a kinder, gentler version of vacationland. The crowds are fewer, but expert surfers still dot the waves. Beaches still envelop well-established towns, and waters still greet those eager to partake in aquatic pleasures. Accessible national parks, like Noosa and Cooloola, replace the more artificial theme parks down the coast, and travelers content to relax are more likely to see koalas in the wild.
The largest of the islands that dot Queensland's coastal waters, sandy Fraser
Leonora
Goldmining town in the desert.
Leonora is located 833 km east of Perth and 240 km north from Kalgoorlie. Leonora is also like so many of the small goldmining towns in the Eastern Goldfields, has had a chequered history. Gold. nickel and copper are mined in the area, particularly at the Leinster and Laverton, around 100 km. north. This place was discovered and named by John Forrest in 1869. The town grew quickly. The Leonora townsite was declared in 1898 and two years later the thriving settlement became a municipality. In 1900 a steam tramway linked Leonora and Gwalia.
Mount Magnet
Mount Magnet, the oldest surviving gold settlement of the Murchison, is 567km north of Perth on the Great Northern Highway. It is a small township which now survives on a combination of gold mining and services for the surrounding pastoral area which boasts some of the largest sheep stations in Western Australia. There is much to see here, remains of the early Goldrush era, magnificent granite breakaway country and, in season, spectacular carpets of wildflowers.
Mount Magnet History
Gold was first discovered here in July 1891 and amazingly rich areas around the settlement were found, including Poverty Flats 'where they
