Take the opportunity to visit the Old Coolgardie Gaol for an insightful look at how prisoners were incarcerated in the late 1800s. Walk through the cells and imagine the hardships experienced by the early settlers inhabiting the prison during the gold rush days. Forming part of the main Government Building complex, the architecture of this grand building is also worth exploring. A five minute walk from the Gaol will bring you to the intriguing Gaol Tree on Hunt Street, where prisoners were chained to the tree while awaiting trial. The goldrush brought thousands to the area and whilst the town of Coolgardie tried to cope with the overnight growth, it took some time to expand to accommodate the rush. As a result, during the construction of a gaol, a tree had to become a makeshift holding cell. The fascinating town of Coolgardie has been well preserved to capture a sense of the historic events that took place. Coolgardie is a six hour drive northeast of Perth.
