Coolgardie, town, state of Western Australia, Australia. Coolgardie is a classic gold rush town located on the south-western edge of the Great Victoria Desert about 32 km (20 mi) south-west of Kalgoorlie. Founded in 1892, following the discovery of gold in East Coolgardie, the population of gold-diggers quickly soared to over 20,000. The discovery of potentially richer gold fields in Kalgoorlie enticed most of the newcomers away, although the Eldorado nugget, weighing 55 kg (121 lb), was found in Coolgardie in 1951. In common with many other gold rush towns, Coolgardie today relies upon tourism although there is still some gold-mining: outside Coolgardie tourists can pan for gold, and improved mining techniques have made commercial mining more profitable. The government buildings, once the largest stone buildings in Western Australia outside Perth, are now a museum. Population (1991) 1,063.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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