Kambalda is situated in a semi-arid environment on the land of the
Galaagu people, approximately southeast of
Coolgardie and east of
Perth. Kambalda's determination to keep as much native
flora as possible separates them from other similar mining towns. Kambalda West is approximately from Kambalda East and is the location of the tourist bureau and the shire offices. The town was officially gazetted on 10 December 1897 and laid out by the Government surveyor W. Rowley, who chose the name Kambalda. The Red Hill Gold Mine, which began operations in 1897, was relatively short-lived. It was closed by 1907 and the small settlement had become a
ghost town. One memory of the original town is the old well in George Cowcill Street. New interest in the area occurred in 1954 when George Cowcill took samples of what he thought was
uranium. Later analysis found large deposits of
nickel and by 1966
Western Mining Corporation had established Australia's
first nickel mine. It is fair to describe
Kambalda East and
Kambalda West as Australia's first nickel mining towns. Apart from the Red Hill Lookout with its views over Lake Lefroy, and the opportunity to drive across the causeway, the town offers historical attractions and modern amenities, with a 24-hour
RV stop area, shops and a skate park. Kambalda is known for its
feral goats. ==Present day==