Kambalda, Western Australia

A former gold mining town which derives it income today from the mining of nickel.
Location: 60 km south of Kalgoorlie
Origin of name: when gold was first discovered here in 1897, Surveyor W. Rowley recorded the locality's name as Kambalda because he liked the sound of it. Its is believed to be of Aboriginal origin though its meaning is not known.
Brief history: the gold finds at Kambalda were never of the magnitude of those at Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie, and the settlement soon became a ghost town. It remained that way until the Western Mining Corporation found nickel nearby in the early 1970s. It was then redeveloped into a thriving company town.
Natural features: Lake Lefroy
Built features: Kambalda open cut nickel mine.