This is a transition zone between the
Mediterranean climate of
Australia's south-west coast and the country's dry interior. The poor soil makes it unsuitable for agriculture but
Coolgardie has been a gold and nickel mining area. It is bounded on the north by the arid
Murchison bioregion, characterised by open
mulga woodlands and steppe. The low shrublands of the arid
Nullarbor Plain lie to the east. The
Mallee bioregion adjoins Coolgardie on the south. The
Avon Wheatbelt bioregion is to the west. The Coolgardie bioregion, together with the coastal
Hampton bioregion to the southeast, constitute the
Coolgardie woodlands ecoregion defined by the
World Wildlife Fund. ==Flora and fauna==