KALGOORLIE

• G'day Paddy, since you found gold at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia in 1893, things have changed.

To be sure mate, the town was called Hannans in those days but I didn't care for the attention.
I left seven months after finding gold to enjoy a holiday, I was 53 years old.
I returned to the Goldfields and prospected up north around Menzies and Mt Ida until 1910.
Over the years I returned to Kal for a few short visits.

• You should have seen the skyline twenty years ago Paddy, there was at least ten headframes.

What happened to 'em?
There used to be over 100 headframes marking the Golden Mile.

Hey mate, is that a modern poppet head?

• It probably was a long time ago Paddy. It's a museum display now.

• Looks like the Exchange Hotel is stocking up on beer. We'll have to come back here tonight, Paddy.

This looks familiar. The hotel across the road is the Palace. I stayed there on my return visit in 1897.
It was just completed and the first to have electric lighting from its own generators and fresh water on tap from the condensers.
The Post Office in the background was still under construction and completed in 1899.

I remember the Kalgoorlie Hotel. It didn't have a balcony then. What's does 'dot com' mean?

• It's an internet address, Paddy. I will explain tonight.

This is bringing back many memories. There were a few hotels before 1895 but nothing permanent.

• It must have been exciting watching the town grow so fast, Paddy.

The British Arms Hotel was located at the end of the tram line bringing miners home from the Boulder diggings.

And a thirsty lot they were too. C'mon mate, lets go inside and I'll buy you a beer.

• Sorry Paddy, it's a museum now.

• It was the skinniest pub in Australia.

I have squeezed in there on one of my rare visits to Kalgoorlie.

• C'mon Paddy, let's head out to Boulder.

• This is it Paddy, the 'Golden Mile'. All the leases eventually merged and was swallowed by this Super Pit.
  Sixty million ounces of gold recovered so far.

I find this hard to believe, my claim was only three miles away.

• This modern prospector is 'working the ground' near the Super Pit. That instrument detects gold under the ground.

I was a prospector for over forty years and used to dream of something like that.

• Recognise this Paddy?

We used to throw the wee ones back.

Just kidding. In the beginning gold nuggets like these were scattered everywhere.
Tom, Dan and myself picked up over 100 ounces in the first three days.

In my day, not only was the beer named Hannans, but the Brewery Company too.
By 1897 there was the Hannans Club, Hotel, Street, Railway Station, and five goldmines using my name.

• That's not all Paddy, now there is a Golf Course, Suburb, Supermarket, Shopping Centre, Motel, News Agency and Deli too.

• This is the Cornwall Hotel (1900) in Boulder.
  Hey Paddy, click on the image and check out the slogan in the window.

Hmmph... lets go in for a cold beer.

• Sorry Paddy, it's a restaurant now.

• The last working underground gold mine in Kalgoorlie. Over three million ounces of gold came out of that hole.

That's the Mt Charlotte headframe. I found my first gold nugget near there.

That's a fine looking building mate, I don't recognise it.

• That's the Metropole Hotel, 111 years old and it's never looked better. C'mon Paddy, me ol' mate, let's go in for a few beers before we head back to Kalgoorlie.

Who's this fellow then? hic... burp

• It's the Miners Monument, dedicated to all the underground miners who worked on the Golden Mile. Erected in 1984.

Good to see, in my day only the strongest and bravest men worked on the rock face.

Ok mate, my turn. This was built in 1900.

• The Exchange Hotel is still a popular watering hole in Kalgoorlie and if you look closely you will see why.
  C'mon Paddy, lets go in for a beer and see the bar named after you.

• Even though the Hannans Brewery closed in 1982, I found a few cans of Hannan's Lager.
  Nearly forty years old but they should be ok to drink.

You go first Ray.

Cheers mate.

Cheers.