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

Monday to Sunday | 10am to 3pm, closed Public Holidays.

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...

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...

‘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...

More Golden Outback collections

A country police station

The first Laverton police station is described by the guide as ‘tents, tin and fibro,’ with the prisoners brutally chained to logs. In 1899 the original jail was moved from the close-by settlement of...

Step back in time in the country to do some shopping in the 1950's.

Celebrating the heyday of the Hainsworth shop, café, and shop owner's quarters, you will feel as if you have walked straight into the 1950's. The Newdegate Historical Society has lovingly restored the...

A railway museum inside an old railway station building.

Stand on the railway platform which once welcomed steam and diesel passenger trains. Imagine a time when rail travel was the cheapest and easiest way to travel. Be immersed in the fascinating history...

A flora herbarium created by local wildflower enthusiasts.

Discover the unique Kulin wattle, Acacia kulinensis and the intriguing Black Toothbrush and Grevillea hookeriana amongst files of over 2000 wheatbelt flora species, which have been pressed and...

While you're in the area

Filter
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
Coolgardie Goldfields Exhibition Museum
Attraction
Coolgardie Goldfields Exhibition Museum
The Goldfields Exhibition Museum is housed in the grand historic two...
Bayley 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
Warden Finnerty's Residence
Attraction
Warden Finnerty's Residence
Warden Finnerty's House in Coolgardie is a beautiful historic home which...
2 Mckenzie Street, Coolgardie, WA 6429