Early Western Australian goldfields prospectors travelled far and wide in their quest for gold nuggets and fame. In March 2003, a new type of wealth was unearthed by a group of ‘modern day prospectors’ comprising the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission, the Golden Quest Trails Association, Goldfields Tourism Association, Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines, Anaconda Ltd and Croesus Mining in partnership with five Local Governments, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Shires of Coolgardie, Menzies, Leonora and Laverton.
This ‘gem’ was in the form of a 965 kilometre drive trail known as the Golden Quest Discovery Trail, an adventure drive that includes 25 identified interpretative sites. Commencing in Coolgardie, the Trail passes through Ora Banda, Menzies, Kookynie, Mt Morgans, Laverton and Leonora. The last site is the KCGM Superpit in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
A combination of bitumen and non-bitumen roads, the Trail is suitable for conventional cars or 4WD vehicles. This adds to the adventure of this unique experience. The Trail highlights the region’s history, pastoral and mining industry, environment, architecture and the people who have lived and currently live in this unique part of the Western Australian goldfields.
The Golden Quest Discovery Trail is complemented by a comprehensive 161 page guidebook and two audio CDs – a ‘must-have’ if you are going to take the drive and experience what is on offer in the Kalgoorlie goldfields.
Further details regarding the Trail and the Guidebook are available from the Golden Quest Trails Association web site at www.goldenquesttrail.com
