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Western Australia 2

NOVEMBER 2012 GARRETT KEARNS

Perth & Rottenest Island

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Gold Mining & The Perth Mint

Exact replica of gold nugget weighing 70 pounds found in the

goldfields of Coolgardie

When people hear gold rush, they think ofCalifornia, but the gold rush in Australia was just as

significant. In the 1890s people from all over the world

traveled to Australia then ventured by foot 600km from

Perth into the outback to the goldfields in Coolgardie. They

carried nothing but just the necessities such as a bedroll,

mining equipment and a water canteen, many did notsurvive their first months, some did not even survive the

journey. The gold fields were empty for most but some hitthe jackpot. The biggest gold nugget ever found was in

Australia and it weighed over 150 pounds.

The Perth Mint history was very unique. It wasfounded in June of 1899 and was built to refine gold

discovered in Western Australias Gold fields. They made

coins called sovereigns and half sovereigns for the entire

British Empire. The Perth Mint has made 106 million

sovereigns, 438 million pennies, 829 million two cent pieces,

and many others. Australia took control; of the mint in

1970. Every coin made in the mint bears a P mint mark

showing where it is from. We were allowed to go into the original meltinghouse which began operating in 1899. Over 2,500 tons of

gold went through this room. This is were they refined the

gold, melted it down, and made it into gold bars. We

watched a demonstration and the room was extremely hot

and dark, it was fascinating.

It was impressive to see how most of the gold everfound in Australia was brought through the Perth Mint and

how we got to wittiness how liquid gold is turned into goldbars and coins. I will definitely not forget this experience

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Rottenest Island

A Magnificent Island Off the Coast

of Perth

Rottenest Island, or Rotto, as the locals call it lies 12 kilometers off the

res of Perth and is a popular tourist destination. Starting in 1829, it became a

onial settlement. Rottenest was then used as an Aboriginal Prison Camp from 1838 to

04. Over 350 prisoners died on the island during this time, of malnutrition and

ease, and in general being treated very cruelly. The Australian government just

ently recognized the burial grounds on the island and made an official apology to the

riginals.

There were a tremendous amount of shipwrecks on the island in the late 1800s

ause the straight going between the island and the mainland was a popular shipping

e. Fremantle South of Perth was known as the Gateway to the West, and Rottenest

directly in the path of the shipping channels from the Indian Ocean. In the late

00s when Australia began to prosper lighthouse keepers said the the number of shipssing by went from two a week up to ten a day. Another reason why there were so

ny shipwrecks was because there a huge amount of rocks and reefs surrounding the

nd. Until recently, there was only one lighthouse on the island and it was situated in

middle so the keeper could see in all directions but it actually caused more

pwrecks because the ships captains could not see where the peninsulas were.

WWII was of great importance for Fremantle, which included the Australian

d the U.S. submarine bases. After Japan bombed Darwin, the government decided to

ld military defense guns on Rottenest. They built the guns after intercepting Japans

n to bomb Fremantle. They built two huge nine inch guns that took troops over two

rs to build. The guns were able to fire at ships up to 29 kilometers offshore Not one

t was ever fired because Japan was was defeated befoe they were able to move further

wn the coast. The guns were manned year round and as the island became a major

litary post. While we were on the island, we were able to take a tour through the

nels the gunners used, and learn the operation of the guns.

Its really great that there are no cars of the island, yet there were roads built

ing the military years and they have been maintained for bikes. Biking is the only

y to get around the islands, there are many historical stops to visit such as WWII guns

d museums. Fishing is very plentiful on the island as there are so many reefs

rounding it. Back when people were first settling on the island there main food source

fish and it continues to be a main resource today.

It is home to a small kangaroo like animal called the Quokka. Since the island

no predators such as fox and weasels the quokkas can roam freely. There are

usands of them on the island and it has become a refuge for them as they are almost

tinct and are found nowhere else in the world.

Still today people live on the island full time and there is asmall school with

en kids. It was an amazing place because it was so diverse and there were so many

erent environments on the same island, from pines forests, beaches to sand dunes,

ensive reefs and wildlife. It had a fascinating history and was a real escape from the

side world I am definitely looking forward to going back.