Kurnalpi, Western Australia

Kurnalpi
Western Australia
Kurnalpi
Coordinates 30°32′20″S 122°13′44″E / 30.539°S 122.229°ECoordinates: 30°32′20″S 122°13′44″E / 30.539°S 122.229°E
Established 1895
Postcode(s) 6431
Elevation 377 m (1,237 ft)
Location
  • 671 km (417 mi) ENE of Perth
  • 80 km (50 mi) ENE of Kalgoorlie
LGA(s) City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
State electorate(s) Electoral district of Kalgoorlie
Federal Division(s) O'Connor

Kurnalpi is an abandoned town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. It is situated between Norseman and Laverton.

In 1894 alluvial gold was discovered in the area sparking a rush to the area, a townsite being surveyed later the same year and gazetted in 1895.[1] The post office was established later the same year and continued to operate until at least 1910. Potable water was difficult to source in the area so several mobile water condensers were brought to town with three arriving in 1896, two more in 1897 and another in 1898. A police station was built in 1896 and closed in 1910. A twice a week coach travelled to Kalgoorlie began operating in 1897. By 1901 the population of the town was 262 people (with 250 of them being male).[2]

The name of the town is Aboriginal in origin but the meaning is unknown. A feature of the district on the edge of town is known as Kurnalpi Rockholes.

References

  1. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names". Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  2. "Morowa District Historical Society" (PDF). 2009. Retrieved 2011-02-19.