Kalgoorlie conjures up the image of singlets, skimpy bars, heavy drinking and brawling miners, which is not entirely untrue. It has been described as the `mad bastard capital of Australia'. The summer climate is extremely hot - it's best to avoid the sweltering months of December and January. However, despite these drawbacks the town is considered a major tourist attraction and is the winner of major tourism awards.

There are several museums and the Hainault tourist mine is well worth a visit. The surrounding countryside, stripped of vegetation by the early miners, is forbiddingly ugly. Among the town's attractions are the School of Mines and Museum, Paddy Hannan's Tree which marks the spot where Hannan found gold, Paddy Hannan's Statue and the Golden Mile Museum and collection of local gemstones. Established during the WA gold rush of the 1890s, and surrounded by a number of goldmining ghost towns, it is the only large town left in Accommodation can be difficult to find in September because of the local horse races and the tour groups which arrive to view the area's wildflowers.

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