Gwalia

Not far from Laverton, the end of the sealed road, is a mine at Gwalia. This is a mature gold mine that is still in operation. It is one seriously deep hole in the ground. that truck you see toward the right side is a really big one.



Nearby, hanging on the wall is a bicycle that was likely used to carry messages about the from the manager. Or something like that. It was an interesting photo, but couldn't tell what it had to do with anything.

One of the managers, it turns out was Herbert Hoover. The former President of the US. He was trained as an engineer and in the 1890's was hired to manage the mine and was, for a while, the highest paid engineer in the world.

He designed the manager's house with the intention of bringing his bride to live here after his pending nuptials.

It is nice house but he left before he got married and he never lived here as a married man.

There was a framed set of photos showing Herbert when he was here.

Aside from the really huge hole in the ground, the fascinating things is the ghost town where the workers used to live. It is the remains of a shanty town, built mostly from corrugated metal.

There were lots of old trucks still sitting around.

And even a saddle on a wooden bench that has suffered in the harsh sun.

Inside on the houses is, surprisingly, a piano. Although I pretty sure it no longer works, just image the effort required to get it here nearly 100 years ago. It took us two days to drive here on sealed roads that cover the territory in a straight line. Consider doing this with a piano in a wagon pulled by horses. No thanks.

Like the Menzies roadhouse, this garage is covered with license plates.

I'm really not sure about all these vehicles. No engines, no interior, no wheels...just a body in bad shape now rotting away. You will see that we see more of this sort of thing on the Great Central Road, but I don't understand why these are here like this.

In the bright sun, beside an enormous mine are a variety of surprises. Western Australia is known for mining. Rio Tinto, the multinational mining company has a big headquarters in Perth. But, as might be no real surprise, Australia approaches mining in an bit different way. Done with a truck...walk away. Done with the town...walk away.  And it just sits, baking in the intense sun.