Leonora - Western Australia

[@chrisstevens463]

We arrived in Leonora in 1960 I was six years old,my father was the State Battery manager for 8 years he also looked after the batteries at Laverton and Lake Darlot,my older brother and I would often travel with dad usually staying the night at either place,the batteries had small huts to house their workers and we stayed there,I remember when the Sons Of Gwalia shut down and can still remember the last time the mine blew its whistle for the last time, still remember hearing and seeing the little wood trains going out for timber, we had a great time in Leonora and gwalia, thanks for the video ,haven’t been back in years ,the place has changed a bit since we were there,Regards Chris Stevens now in Esperance.

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@mikeperth8027]

If I'm coming back from Leinster or Laverton, around 22:00/21:00 I always stop at Leonora and get a beer, meal and room at The White House Hotel, great clean and cheap rooms, beer is always cold and sometimes the food is good.

[@redhammer9910]

I quite like this channel. Interesting subjects more so to older generations. You can see in the comments that there is a place on the web for our stories and many mad adventures. The real history of WA's character and how it evolved through people not just politicians.

[@redhammer9910]

Leonora, Laverton and the Windarra mine, now there's some old memories. More recent Kalgoorlie, Menzies and Lake Ballard. This is a really Interesting region for any traveller who loves the outback. Lake Ballard with a couple of centimeters of water. Stand on the mound on a stunning star lit night and tell me what you see. What does that feel like to you? For me I felt lost in space, floating in a space ship standing at the glass housed nose with nothing but the heaven's from the tip of my toes to as high as I could hold my head back. Or standing at the bar in the Windarra wet canteen watching half cut miners playing pool when a 7" green grasshopper flies in flapping around the pool players who started swinging in a vain attempt to end it's flight, that's when the brawl started. I'd forgotten it all. That was lovely and thank you for presenting it.

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

We are yet to get to Lake Ballard, I would love to see it as you describe.

[@donnagarsee8944]

Cute little town. It amazes me how many little towns there are.

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

Most of our little towns are in the south west and as you go north they spread out a lot more. By the time you get to the north end of the state they are often several hundred kilometres apart with just road houses (fuel stops) in between.

[@ontheroadwithjohn]

Thats a very clean looking town. Surprised to see a tram service in town

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

It was once a very progressive place but perhaps not so much these days :)

[@alhippo2026]

Two pub town one at one end For F.N. one for the rest 30 years ago !!!

[@MrZoomah]

Fun fact: You will notice a lot of places named "Hoover." This was because US President Herbert Hoover lived in Leonora and started one of the mines. Sorry if you mentioned this but my kid was interrupting the video constantly so I might have missed it. :D

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

We have a big video coming up all about Hoover House in Gwalia :)