Sunset over Norseman

Norseman
Mining town at the Western Australian end of the trip across the Nullarbor
Located 726 km east of Perth and 278 m above sea level, Norseman is the last major town in Western Australia before heading east across the Nullarbor Plain. For people heading across the Nullarbor Plain it is essential to stop at the Norseman Tourist Bureau in Roberts Street (signposted off the Eyre Highway) where there are a number of invaluable sheets available which provide detailed and up-to-date information on the cost and availability of accommodation, water, credit cards, food, fuel and other facilities at all the major stopover points on the route.

The quest for gold in the Kalgoorlie-Coolgardie area led to the establishment of Norseman. The story of the town's origins and its naming have become folklore. The first discoveries in the area were made in 1892 on what became known as the 'Dundas Field' and the town which sprang up in this harsh and inhospitable environment was called 'Dundas', for the lack of anything better. Two years later (and here legend and fact become rather confused) the town was named 'Norseman' after a horse owned by a prospector named Laurie Sinclair. It has been claimed that 'Norseman' kicked at a large nugget on a site which Sinclair later pegged and discovered a substantial reef.

Like most of the Goldfields towns, Norseman grew rapidly. It was proclaimed a town in 1895, became a municipality the following year, was connected to the telegraph in 1896, and by 1905 had a population of 3000.

The area suffered acutely from a shortage of water (its average annual rainfall is 276 mm) and an isolation from major centres. Houses were built out of anything miners could find and rainwater was supplemented by distilling saltwater from the numerous lakes in the region.

Services in the area improved slowly between the wars - the railway arrived in 1927, reliable water came to the town in 1936 and the southern road through Esperance and Port Augusta was upgraded in 1941 - but the gold dwindled. Today there are a number of small goldmining operations in the area but only the Central Norseman Gold Corporation can be considered a major producer. Still, it is claimed that since 1892 over 100 tonnes of gold have been extracted from the area.

Modern Norseman is basically a large, sprawling town driven by mining and tourism and dominated by a huge (4 million tonnes of fine quartz) tailings dump.

Things to see:  

Norseman Historical Collection
The attractions in the area are limited. The Norseman Historical Collection, located at the old School of Mines Building in Battery Road, has interesting displays of local memorabilia which focus on household and mining equipment from 1894-1920. It is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm during the winter months and from 10.00 am - 5.00 pm in summer.

It is possible to tour the town's major mining operation. There is a daily tour at 9.30 am. For further details contact the Norseman Tourist Bureau on 08 9039 1071.

Mount Jimberlana
The Tourist Bureau also has sheets dealing with a range of local attractions. Mount Jimberlana, which is located 5 km from Norseman, provides excellent views of the area for those prepared to climb its rocky slopes. It has been estimated that the rocks in this area are nearly 2 900 million years old. The dry lake chain to the north indicates the past existence of an ancient river system.

Lake Cowan and Lake Dundas
Of the lakes both Lake Cowan and Lake Dundas are recommended particularly for camera enthusiasts prepared to go to the lakes in the late afternoon or early morning.

Two sheets are available on the old Dundas townsite which lies south of Norseman. Located near the shore of Lake Dundas it offers excellent views across the lake as well as the sad sight of a solitary grave of a child who died in 1897 - the only reminder that the area was once filled with the frenzy of gold prospecting.

	Tourist Information
	Norseman Tourist Bureau Robert St Norseman WA 6443 Telephone: (08) 9039 1071 Facsimile: (08) 9039 1488
	Motels
	Great Western Motel Prinsep St Norseman WA 6443 Telephone: (08) 9039 1633 Rating: **
	Norseman Eyre Motel Cnr Eyre & Coolgardie Hwys Norseman WA 6443 Telephone: (08) 9039 1130, 1800 094 824 Facsimile: (08) 9039 1547 Rating: ***
	Norseman Eyre Motel Cnr Eyre & Coolgardie Hwys Norseman WA 6443 Telephone: (08) 9039 1130, 1800 094 824 Facsimile: (08) 9039 1547
	Hotels
	Balladonia Hotel Eyre Hwy Norseman WA 6443 Telephone: (08) 9039 3453
	Norseman Hotel Roberts St Norseman WA 6443 Telephone: (08) 9039 1023
	Railway Hotel/Motel 106 Roberts St Norseman WA 6443 Telephone: (08) 9039 0003
	Lodges & Chalets
	Lodge 101 101 Prinsep St Norseman WA 6443 Telephone: (08) 9039 1541
	Caravan Parks
	Gateway Caravan Park Prinsep St Norseman WA 6443 Telephone: (08) 9039 1500 Rating: **
	Restaurants
	Great Western Motel Prinsep St Norseman WA 6443 Telephone: (08) 9039 1633
	Norseman Hotel Roberts St Norseman WA 6443 Telephone: (08) 9039 1023
	Railway Hotel/Motel 106 Roberts St Norseman WA 6443 Telephone: (08) 9039 0003