Coolgardie Visitors Centre & Goldfields Exhibition Museum

A local collection housed in the historic old Courthouse or Gold fever, old geezers, heroes and bold pieces.

From a tent town to bricks and mortar, the old Coolgardie Courthouse unpacks the history of the 1890's gold fever and is a treasure trove of items from local collectors. Learn about Coolgardie’s mining history, and the triumphs of its local heroes, such as the divers who rescued trapped miner Modesto 'Charlie' Varischetti. A more recent story is about Scott Properjohn, the founder of the museum. Properjohn made many of the displays in the Museum and other museums in the region. See rare items from cameleer history, including an 'Afghan' beadwork snake, and marvel at the large bottle collection in the old courtroom, or the pharmacy items displayed on the ground floor. Don't forget to visit the quirky, Ben Prior Park, an open-air museum across the road from the museum. The park contains rare mining equipment and celebrates the local heroes like Ernest Giles and his camel.

Address:

62 Bayley St
Coolgardie WA 6429
Australia

Opening Hours

Mon to Fri 8:30am - 4pm; Sat to Sun 10am - 3pm.

A mining rescue miracle

On the 19 March 1907, Coolgardie received unprecedented rain, which caused water to rise in the mine at Bonnievale. Modesto Varischetti became trapped and remained below ground for 9 days, when he was...

‘A little dab’l do’

A little dab'l do ya’ was the advertising phrase used by Brylcreem in the 1950s, to put 'life, life, life back into dry hair'. These items are part of the Eddy Grant Collection which contains food and...

From trash to treasure

Frank and May Waghorn lived near Sandstone when they discovered a bottle dump, which led to bottle fever! Frank and May ‘dug from daylight to dark seven days a week’ looking for bottles and travelled...

More Golden Outback collections

A family collection which turned in to a museum

This quirky museum includes several very realistic mannequins, including the friendly bartender from the old Edna May Hotel Bar! The collection was acquired as a donation from the Hood-Penn family...

One Man, His Dream, Our Lake

A New Year’s Eve to remember: Breaking the world water speed record at 444.71 km/h. Blink and you would miss the moment! On 31 December 1964, on Lake Dumbleyung, in his hydroplane Bluebird K7, Donald...

A historical village started by a small group of people

Bringing visitors a slice of settler life from the late 1800s to mid 1900s, Wagin Historical Village has it all: A bakery, post office, local store, dairy, fire station, printer, bank, church...

A glimpse of early pioneering life at this remote Wheatbelt outpost

The stunning landscape surrounding Mangowine is a powerful reminder of people's relationship with the environment. The place represents a story of resilience and tenacity. In the 1870s, Charles and...

While you're in the area

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Coolgardie Historical Cemetery
Attraction
Coolgardie Historical Cemetery
Reflect on the lives and hardships encountered during the gold rush years...
via Bayley Street, Coolgardie, WA 6429
Ben Prior Park - Open Air Museum
Attraction
Ben Prior Park - Open Air Museum
If you are looking for a museum with a difference whilst in Coolgardie...
53 Bayley Street, Coolgardie, WA 6429
Lindsay's Pit
Attraction
Lindsay's Pit
The now disused Lindsay's Pit open cut gold mine on the north side of...
Ford Street, Coolgardie, WA 6429
Bayleys Reward Fly Flat
Attraction
Bayleys Reward Fly Flat
Bayleys Reward Fly Flat is the site where gold was first discovered in...
Hunt Street, Coolgardie, WA 6429