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.

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 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...

Djamal driver

Afghan, Indian and Pakistani cameleers assisted in the exploration and expansion of pastoralism and mining in Western Australia. This turban and leather shoes belonged to Taj Mohammed, a citizen of...

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While you're in the area

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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
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
Coolgardie Bluff Cultural and Heritage Walk Trail
Attraction
Coolgardie Bluff Cultural and Heritage Walk Trail
On the north-east of the Coolgardie townsite, the Bluff Cultural and...
Hunt Street, Coolgardie, WA 6429
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