Kambalda, Western Australia. An interesting town, which is clearly motivated by the mining industry, in particular Nickel Mining. Experience the most down-to-earth locals you'll ever meet. These people like it tough. It's hot out here and they love it.
Have a beer, eat sausages from a BBQ, sit down and watch a desert sunset. The town is surrounded by natural attractions which are definately worth checking out, such as land-sailing on Lake Lefroy.
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Kambalda is an inland town situated in the Goldfields area of Australia's Golden Outback tourist region. Kambalda is at the site of Western Australia's first gold rush period of the 1870's. On a major route to Australia's eastern states.
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Lake Lefroy
A magnificent salt lake which stands out from the surrounding area by its pure white, gleaming colour and extreme lack of vegetation. For a great view of this dry lake, take a walk up to Red Hill Lookout and marvel at the vastness of the landscape from the viewing platform.
Land Sailing
Land Sailing upon Lake Lefroy is an awesome feeling. Strapped into a land yacht, sailors can achieve speeds up to 100km per hour using the hot desert winds that roll over the vegetation free salt lake. Definately worth a go for those of you who love adrenaline sports.
Kambalda Memorial Garden
A beautiful garden which is carefully tended to and bursts with native Australian wildflowers and also traditional blooms. Also a great way to meet locals who organise walking trips of nearby areas between 6 - 8 kilometres in duration to discover the native Australian flora and fauna.
Tjulyuru Culural Centre
The art gallery, Warta Shop and Kapi Cafe all offer you a true Australian outback experience. The art and artefact are produced by the Ngaanyatjarra communities. Enjoy meeting the local people, visit the art Gallery, see original and authentic Aboriginal art and crafts.
Percy Larkin found gold in 1887 and Kambalda was born. The Red Hill Gold Mine was relatively short-lived however and was closed by 1907 and the small settlement had become a ghost town. The town has enjoyed steady growth in recent history and is now divided into 2 sections, Kambalda East and Kambalda West. Kambalda East, built between 1967-73, is the older of the two centres while Kambalda West is a very recent development.
Renewed interest in the area occurred in 1954 when George Cowcill took samples of what he thought was uranium. Subsequent analysis found significant deposits of nickel and by 1966 Western Mining Corporation had established Australia's first nickel mine. It is fair to describe Kambalda East and Kambalda West as Australia's first nickel mining towns.
Kambalda has a semi-arid climate and receives little rainfall, the reason so many dry salt lakes surround the town. Vegetation is in the form of scrubland and tall trees are hard to find. In Summer, temperatures soar, however at night temperatures can be cold in contrast to the heat of the day. In Summer (December to February), the average maximum temperature is 38°C with an average minimum temperature of 22°C. In Winter (June to August), the average maximum temperature is 12°C with an average minimum temperature of 5°C.
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