Visit The Hannans North Tourist Mine
Dig deeper into Kalgoorlie’s gold rush history at the Hannans North Tourist Mine, where you’ll find plenty of fun hands-on experiences for both kids and grown-ups. Snap some photos as you climb the giant truck and loader; explore the old Prospectors Campsite; go panning for gold; and stroll through the tranquil Chinese Garden of Remembrance.
The mine is open Sunday to Friday from 9am – 4pm. Discover more about admission fees and bookings.
What can you do at the Hannans North Tourist Mine?
The Hannans North Tourist Mine gives you the chance to explore over 30 exhibits on a self-guided tour. You get a mix of educational and immersive experiences, giving you some great insight into the history of the mine.
You can listen to Paddy Hannan tell you his story of striking it rich and hear accounts of people who lived in the Goldfields prospector camp in the 1800s. Meanwhile, the Gold Stealing Detection Exhibit lets you read crime tales and fails from criminals in that time period. You also get a chance to check out some of the original buildings from the early 1900s, such as the famous Golden Mile.
The tour also lets you try your hand at some present-day mining activities, by going into a modern underground refuge chamber where up to 12 people can survive in this area for 72 hours. You also get to climb aboard a 793c haul truck and 994 wheel loader, allowing you to sit in the cabs with a view from where an operator sits. Or, give yourself a chance to experience gold fever as you pan for real Goldfields gold at the panning ponds and keep what you find.
For more of a cultural experience, you can have a look at the Chinese Heritage Garden. This was built by Chinese artisans as a memorial to the Chinese immigrants who came to the Goldfields during the gold rush period.
You can also choose to make a day of it and utilise some of the free BBQ facilities in the Hannans North Tourist Mines. Just bring along some food and drinks and have a relaxing lunch with your family while checking out the exhibits. And there are dog pens on site, so you can bring your furry friends along with you too.
As you’re finishing up your tour, you can pick up some souvenirs or mementos from our gift shop. School and tour groups are encouraged to come visit if they’re travelling through the Kalgoorlie-Boulder. For more information, contact 08 9022 1664.
What to know before you go
Hannans North Tourist Mine is only a 4-minute drive away from the Kalgoorlie Plaza Hotel. Just head back to Hannan Street from the hotel, turn right, and follow the road until you reach Goldfields Highway. Turn left onto the Highway, and drive for a minute until you see the sign indicating the turnoff to the Mine.
Hannans North Tourist Mine is open 6 days a week, Sunday to Friday, from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Last admission is at 3:30pm, but you’ll typically spend more than half an hour there.
It’s only closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years Day.
Prices range from $9 for children, $14 for concession card holders, and $16 for adults, and a family pass can be purchased for $47, for 2 adults and 2 children.
Hannans North Tourist Mine isn’t a working mine, so don’t expect to go prospecting for record-breaking gold nuggets. However, there is a space to try your hand at gold panning. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to uncover real gold fines, left over from the mine’s Gold Rush history.
Along with a sense of adventure, we recommend wearing sturdy enclosed footwear, as you’ll be outside for a lot of your time here. Bring a hat and sunscreen, too, and plenty of water.
While tea, coffee, cold drinks, and a selection of ice creams are available, they don’t sell meals, so make sure to bring snacks, or pack a picnic. Alternatively, there are also barbecue facilities available on-site.