Kalgoorlie

We have spent the last few days in Kalgoorlie which is a very old large regional town based on gold mining. This is the huge super pit. Look how tiny the huge big mining trucks appear to be, within this massively wide and deep hole! The work is very dangerous as can be seen by the rockfalls. They are drilling underground.  The trucks are filled with rock containing gold and make their way out of the underground and proceed very slowly to climb out to the top where they tip their load and go back for more. It takes about an hour to do the trip. 

Most of our visit to Kalgoorlie has been spent researching the colourful history of the development of mining from small individual claims up to this massive pit. 

Although the town is isolated, it provides almost everything people need for a good life. Unfortunately the gold will run out in 2021 so the people are wondering what will happen to their jobs and the town when the pit is shut down. Will Kalgoorlie become a ghost town like other mining towns in the past after the gold rush was over? What will happen to this gaping hole in the environment? What alternative use could a hole this big have in the future? How could the natural vegetation possibly be re-established? What will happen to house prices? What work will the people do if there isn't any mining? It will not only affect the miners, but also the mechanics, the engineers, the nurses, teachers, butchers etc.