Rio Tinto | Minerals and Metals for the world

Golden opportunities in Western Australia
Gary Merrin goes on the trail of the gold rush pioneers, learns some mining lessons and finds a vintage railway.

In Western Australia, the first gold rush in the fledgling state was in 1886, way up north in the inhospitable region of the Kimberley, at Halls Creek. The following year, gold was first discovered due east of Perth, at Southern Cross, 369km from Perth. As prospectors pushed on east, more gold was discovered in 1892 in Coolgardie, 560km east of Perth.

In 1893 Paddy Hannan, who had been in the initial rush, struck gold 40km further east, leading to the richest gold rush in Australia's history, and the last of the world's truly great gold rushes.

All thanks go to Paddy and his fellow fortune hunters. Today, in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia, 600km east of the state capital Perth on the Indian Ocean coast, the mining and the tourism industries are working hand in hand. Between them they are promoting a bright future for the mining industry in its various forms, whilst simultaneously encouraging tourist interest in all that has been achieved in the region.

For Rio Tinto, 20 per cent of its global assets are in Western Australia, with a long term commitment to operating in the state. This was one of the prime reasons for setting up the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund. Launched in August 2001 by Rio Tinto chief executive Leigh Clifford and WA premier Dr Geoff Gallop, it pledges A$2m annually to maintain robust sustainable communities throughout Western Australia. In the first two years of operation the Fund has supported 29 different projects.



Golden opportunities in Western Australia Gary Merrin goes on the trail of the gold rush pioneers, learns some mining lessons and finds a vintage railway. In Western Australia, the first gold rush in the fledgling state was in 1886, way up north in the inhospitable region of the Kimberley, at Halls Creek. The following year, gold was first discovered due east of Perth, at Southern Cross, 369km from Perth. As prospectors pushed on east, more gold was discovered in 1892 in Coolgardie, 560km east of Perth. In 1893 Paddy Hannan, who had been in the initial rush, struck gold 40km further east, leading to the richest gold rush in Australia's history, and the last of the world's truly great gold rushes. All thanks go to Paddy and his fellow fortune hunters. Today, in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia, 600km east of the state capital Perth on the Indian Ocean coast, the mining and the tourism industries are working hand in hand. Between them they are promoting a bright future for the mining industry in its various forms, whilst simultaneously encouraging tourist interest in all that has been achieved in the region. For Rio Tinto, 20 per cent of its global assets are in Western Australia, with a long term commitment to operating in the state. This was one of the prime reasons for setting up the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund. Launched in August 2001 by Rio Tinto chief executive Leigh Clifford and WA premier Dr Geoff Gallop, it pledges A$2m annually to maintain robust sustainable communities throughout Western Australia. In the first two years of operation the Fund has supported 29 different projects.
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Review is published by Rio Tinto, 6 St James' Square, London SW1Y 4LD, England Telephone +44 (0)20 7930 2399 Editor: Cherry DeGeer