· Open -

The original was built as a shed in 1895 and the pub building replaced it in 1901

· 1st Owner -

The Wilkie brothers who were contractors for the Southern Cross to Kalgoorlie Railway line

· AKA -

Kalgoorlie was originally called Hannan's Find / Kalgoorlie means Silky Pear

· History -

There used to be 47 pubs in Kalgoorlie and 30 in twin town Boulder. For a population of 20,000 and 10,000 respectively. 14 hotels were in Hannan street including the Exchange. Definitely the highest count of pubs per head of population in Australia at the time.

In January 1934 ethnic riots broke out in Kalgoorlie. They were sparked by the accidental death of a local sporting figure and miner. He was ejected from the Home Away from Home Pub and when he came back the next day he was pushed and it resulted in his death from a broken skull.

He was pushed by the Italian barman and rumours spread that he had murdered him. There was a racial divide between the British and the Southern Europeans. The riots lasted 3 days and by the end of it 2 people were dead 14 men went to jail and many properties had been damaged. Several pubs were set on fire.

The Exchange was saved from damage as a man named Bill Trythall took over the license from the foreign sounding licensee.

By 2012 things were not going well and it was put up for sale. Even though the reserve was dropped from 4.5 million down to 3 million the hotel failed to sell at auction.

It had fallen into disrepair and was given an extensive renovation by new owners in 2017 - 2018. They were helped out with $100,000 from the State Heritage Commision

· Signature -

Filigree architecture

It is a living memory of the gold rush days

· Rooms -

The first floor comprises a west wing and an east wing with the main staircase in between. Both wings contain accommodation rooms and bathrooms

· Tales -

Miners would go to the pub after a hard day on the job, stay until closing, go home to bed and do it all over again.

Kalgoorlie's Golden Mile was the largest concentration of gold on earth. It was discovered by an Irishman named Paddy Hannan who was looking for a lost horse. he was also looking for gold and he found it big time.

Within 2 days he and his two accomplices had unearthed 100 ounces of gold and he promptly went off to register his claim. Word spread and by the end of the week 1,000 men had come along to make their fortune.

· Claim to Fame -

It has a State Heritage listing

It is one of two original hotels to have survived from the gold rush days

Holds the record for Jim Beam sales in regional Western Australia

· Innovations -

Skimpies - barmaids in skimpy clothing

· Feature -

Live bands every weekend (Including Thursdays)

· View -

2 historic Pubs on opposite corners

· Facilities -

Pool tables / Digital Jukebox

· Unique -

Is Western Australia's most iconic and photographed hotel

It has the town's longest operating liquor license

· Restaurants -

Paddy's Eat & Drink - Pub Grub / Vietnamese / Korean / Mexican / TexMex / Southern / USA / Moroccan / Spanish / Irish / Indonesian & Italian

Sunday roasts

Kids food and Takeaway

· Bars -

Wild West Saloon - for liquid gold

· Sights -

Visit the Superpit and Lookout - if you call ahead they will let you know when they are blowing stuff up

Museum of the Goldfields

The School of two Up (A traditional old Australian gambling game often played on Anzac Day). This is one of only two venues where it can be played legally, year round.

Fossick for Gold

Stroll down historic Hannan Street - do a Pub Crawl

Brothel Tour - Casa Questa (The Pink House), Australia's oldest - Madame tells a few good yarns

Play a few holes on the Nullarbor Links - the World's longest Golf Course - or better yet play the whole course - see extra below

August to October Wild flowers

Heart Walk - colourful and healthy

Lake Ballard and the Antoney Gormley structures

· Extra -

See  #127 Great South West Edge Loop in 'Countries A - Z and  Nullabor Links in 'Golfing Nomads'.

Click here to go to the marker map.