History of Halls Creek

On Christmas Day in 1885, Charlie Hall found a 28-ounce gold nugget at a site that would eventually be named after him. News of the discovery drew hoards of men to Halls Creek and the site became prospecting grounds to more than 15,000 who had travelled from all over the world to try their luck searching for gold.

Many perished in the harsh outback conditions, the graves of some can be found in the town’s tiny cemetery. The gold rush lasted for a mere three months and soon the gold diggers left for the more lucrative southern goldfields of Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. Halls Creek eventually became a centre of trade for the cattle stations, local Aboriginal communities and miners exploring the area.

The location made it the last stop before stock drovers commenced the long cattle drive along the legendary Canning Stock Route that runs some 2000kms south-west to Wiluna.

In 1948, an airfield was built and the town of Halls Creek gradually moved closer to this, 15kms to the west. The major road, the Great Northern Highway was then re-routed which also forced the movement of the town as its livelihood depended greatly on the passing travellers and massive road trains that service the outback.

 

The Old Halls Creek Township was eventually abandoned in 1954. It’s worth a visit to see the remains of the historic mud brick Post Office, mineshafts and pioneer cemetery - all reminders of the past mining history where gold is still found today.

 

Both towns are full of gold rush stories and relics. One of the more famous stories is of Russian Jack, a man who carried his injured mate in a wheelbarrow for over 300kms to get medical attention. A statue is dedicated to his amazing feat outside the Shire Office.