Category: Western Australia

The gateway to Western Australia, Norseman is a welcoming sight after crossing the Nullarbor from the east. Norseman was discovered in 1894 by Laurie Sinclair. Sinclair named the site after his horse, Norseman, who pawed the ground uncovering a gold nugget. This led to the discovery of one of the richest quartz reefs ever mined in Australia. Situated at the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 94, Norseman has the Nullarbor and Adelaide to the east, Perth to the West, Kalgoorlie Boulder to the north and Esperance to the south. The town is surrounded by beautiful, dense eucalypt bushland, with ancient rock outcrops and large salt lakes nearby. Enjoy the breathtaking views from Beacon Hill, feast on a barbeque at Dundas Rocks, or view the historical collection. There are many facilities available for travellers, with thousands of vehicles and visitors passing through the town every day. Shopping, banking, postal services, fuel, medical, accommodation and food facilities are provided. The tourist complex offers showers, toilets and barbeques in a shady, grassed area for travellers’ comfort. There is also an Olympic sized swimming pool nearby for use in the summer months.

Situated 218 kilometres southeast of Port Hedland, Marble Bar is best known for being the hottest town in Australia, although perfect weather is enjoyed from April to September. The town was called Marble Bar after a stunning formation of jasper which settlers mistook for a huge bar of marble. The natural scenic beauty of the area offers many places for exploration. Chinaman’s Pool and Marble Bar Pool are popular picnic and swimming areas. Jasper deposits allow visitors to take a souvenir from this area. There are many gorges surrounding Marble Bar, including Coppin’s Gap, Kitty’s Gap and Doolena Gorge. Most are accessible by four wheel drive vehicles only. Marble Bar had a population of over 5,000 after gold was found nearby in 1891, but today the town has about 410 inhabitants. However, it continues to be a very productive centre, with gold, tin, silver, lead, zinc, copper and jade deposits being mined. Marble Bar is a very historic town, with many old buildings and remnants of the past. The Government Buildings built in 1896 cost 7949 pounds, 11 shillings and two pence to complete. Comet Gold Mine and the Corunna Downs Airbase were one of the best kept secrets of World War II. Marble Bar has licensed restaurants and cafes offering a la carte menus and takeaway foods. No visit is complete without a cold beer at the Iron Clad Hotel or a seafood dinner at the Marble Bar Travellers Stop. Accommodation available includes motel style, budget and backpacker facilities. Marble Bar Shire of East Pilbara Office is available for tourist information; open weekdays 8.30am to 4.30pm. Weekends and after-hours tourist information and brochures are available at the Marble Bar Travellers Stop (telephone 08 9176 1166) and the Marble Bar Garage.

The City of Perth is focussed on the central business district and surrounding inner city residential areas. Nestled in a picturesque natural amphitheatre, bordered by Kings Park botanical gardens and the beautiful Swan River. Visitors find the city to be clean, well laid out and easy to get around. The city is a must see destination for all visitors. It is the State’s centre for the arts, for business, government and entertainment. The Perth Cultural Centre, featuring the State Library, Museum and Art Gallery is one of the most popular attractions for visitors from near and far. Shopping enthusiasts will be easily satisfied by Western Australia’s largest range of shops and boutiques, while sports fans will be delighted in cricket and football fixtures at the WACA ground and Gloucester Park harness racing. Public transport within the central city is free. The very popular CATS bus service travels on fixed east-west and north-south routes, guaranteeing the traveller’s return to their point of boarding. Two major bus terminals and the central train station make public transport access to other suburbs in Perth an inexpensive and easy travel option. There is good shopping available, plenty of riverside and beachside restaurants and cafes to dine at, world-class golf courses, over 80 kilometres (50 miles) of white sandy beaches to sunbathe on and a mecca of outdoor activities and experiences to enjoy. Perth is an ideal base from which you can explore the diverse surrounding attractions. Only minutes away, you can visit wineries with sumptuous lunches, swim with wild dolphins in their natural environment, holiday on an island, and explore the colourful port city of Fremantle.