Shire of Leonora - Historic Heartland of the Western Australian Goldfields

Places of Interest

Leonora, with its wide main street and many old buildings (some retaining their original uses, like the two hotels, others remaining vacant or put to alternate use) exhibits some of its past character while providing modern facilities and services. Many of the older buildings are constructed of corrugated iron and hessian, as this was a versatile material and lightweight to transport. Similarly, many of the newer buildings are transportable.

A general store, supermarket, butcher, café and a fish-and-chip shop provide for local shoppers and carry most requisites for travellers. Two service stations, motel, hotels and a caravan park provide accommodation, take-away food and dining facilities.
Townspeople make use of a large oval, eighteen-hole golf course, basketball courts, gun club and racetrack for recreation. Leonora sports a lovely new recreation centre where all indoor sports are catered for. Annual open events at golf and clay target shooting, as well as race meetings, attract many visitors.

Many of the older buildings are worth a glance:

The old police station (1903) - corner of Rajah and Gwalia Streets
Courthouse (1903) - corner of Gwalia and Trump Streets
Masonic Lodge - opposite Courthouse
The old fire station (1903) - Gwalia Street opposite Catholic Church
National & WA Bank - Tower & Trump Street and Post Office (1903)
A good view can be obtained from the top of Smoodgers Hill (Tank Hill)

Gwalia is a ghost town although still home for some old and new residents. The old store, guesthouse and many other cottages can be viewed first hand. The State Hotel was the first of Western Australia's State Hotels built (in 1903) at a cost of £6000 for building and furnishings (now the 'Sons of Gwalia' Mining Office).

The Mine Manager's house, old mine office (now the Museum), original headframe and winder room can be seen surrounded by the more recent mining activity. The Museum, top of the hill, provides fascinating displays of early history and lifestyle in Leonora-Gwalia and the North Eastern Goldfields. The Museum is open daily from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
'Ken' is a small locomotive that was used on the extensive narrow gauge 'woodlines' which were established to collect 30,000 tonnes of mulga timber each year to fuel the mine. 'Ken' can be found near the State Hotel.
When viewing Gwalia, remember that the whole area was covered in miners huts where families lived, kept chickens and grew vegetables. Children played and went to school and swam in Western Australia's second public pool, and sometimes went to Leonora on a tram which operated between the towns. The park near the Railway Station area is an ideal picnic spot and a climb to the top of Mt Leonora could help you imagine yourself in Forrest's shoes over 100 years ago.

Population Growth & Decline in Leonora-Gwalia

Year 1901 1911 1921 1933 1947 1954		Leonora 314 1154 539 456 452 358		Gwalia 884 1114 562 784 692 591
1961 1966 1971 1981 1985 1987		970* 338* 594* 1900* 2400* 2259*				Leonora Shire and nickel boom Leinster, Agnew, Teutonic Tower Hill, Harbour Lights, Sons of Gwalia, Teutonic Area 31,743 sq km

* Both Leonora and Gwalia residents

Around and About Leonora
Laverton, which is 130km to the east, was once was a typical gold town. There are numerous mines opening up in this area. On the way you could visit Mt Morgans Gold Mine area where the old Municipal Chambers and Cemetery can be seen.
Twelve kilometres from Leonora, Malcolm Dam, which was built in 1902 to provide water for the railway, provides a good picnic spot. Another railway dam can be seen at Niagra, near Kookynie. It is most interesting as it has an eight metre high wall. The cement was carried by camel from Coolgardie in 1897 when it was built. Niagra township was short lived and Kookynie, which still has a small population and an operating Hotel, became a centre for mining. Many remains of a thriving town, similar to Leonora, can be viewed.
To the north, a day trip to the Lawlers-Agnew area and the new town of Leinster could provide a good look at the pastoral area and some experience of old and new mining towns. Some creeks on the old and new roads provide shady picnic sites. For the more energetic, some exploration of 'The Terraces', a large breakaway formation about 40km north to north-east, will provide good bush walking and some magnificent views.

Our Little Miners Cottages
These little abandoned miners camps were in a very derelict condition until the Leonora Tourist Committee auctioned them off in 1995, for the right to restore. The highest price was $1,000 and bottom price was $20. The volunteers that 'bought' the camps were given titles authorising them to restore the camps under guidelines, using as much of the original materials and colour schemes as possible, at their own cost. Hessian and information sheets were provided. The response was terrific with the involvement of over 100 people from ages ranging from 8 to 72 years old.
The local support for the idea was very strong. We had people doing the actual restoration as well as people boring holes, collecting bits and pieces, painting, allowing access to station rubbish tips for window frames and such, gardening, giving us old newspapers for the walls, perspex and windows. The support was unbelievable and we are very proud of each and every one.
Each house has its own personality. Some were lived-in until not so long ago. Most were left abandoned when the original Sons of Gwalia underground mine closed in 1963. The people that have restored each camp have reflected these moods. Some have restored the houses as they imagine them being still lived in. Others have restored them as though the families have just walked out.