Menzies - town in Western Australia, Australia

Menzies is a small Western Australia town that has endured more than 100 years of decline after its gold rush era boom to retain a distinctive impression of the Goldfields' fickle fortunes. The graceful heritage buildings impart histories no less peculiar than the eerie sculptures at nearby Lake Ballard, making Menzies an intriguing destination for the inquisitive traveller.

Understand

Looking down Menzies' main street today you wouldn't suspect that it was a major town during the late 1800s. Gold was first discovered here in 1894 by a prospecting crew headed by L R Menzie who, while registering the claim in Coolgardie, inadvertently sparked rumour of a prodigious new gold field that ignited a minor stampede of fervent prospectors wanting to grab their own share. Lack of water forced some of the hopeful back but those who lasted the arduous trek, sustained with the promise of abundant fortune, were soon joined by numerous like-minded prospectors.

The burgeoning town was officially named in 1895 and within a year Menzies had a population of 10,000, 13 hotels, 4 churches and a brewery. Sapping heat, water shortages, fires and frequent typhoid epidemics all weakened the residents, but finally when the gold ran out so too did the fortunes of the town and with it the size of the population. By 1910 the population had withered to around 1000 and today the residents number a little more than 200. The handful of original buildings still standing are all that remain from Menzies' previous grandeur.

While Menzies has enough interesting things to see on its own, many travellers pass through here on their way to the sculptures on Lake Ballard. Not as well known, though no less interesting, are the nearby Goongarrie railway cottages and Niagara Dam.

• Menzies Visitor Centre, Cnr Shenton & Browns St, -29.69372°, 121.02881°, +61 8 9024-2702, visitorcentre@menzies.wa.gov.au. 9AM-4:30PM. Runs just about every service in the town and provides info about Menzies and surrounding areas. 2020-02-16

Get in

By plane

Although there is an airport to the north of the town centre, it has no scheduled flights. Further afield, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport IATA: KGI has flights from Perth Airport IATA: PER, which does have international flights.

By car

Menzies is 132 km north of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and 105 km south of Leonora on the Goldfields Highway, which passes through the middle of town.

By bus

• GRT Express. A weekly passenger service between Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Laverton stops in at Menzies. From Kalgoorlie the bus leaves on Thursday at 9AM and takes 1 hr 40 min. From Laverton it leaves at the same time on Friday but takes 2 hr 30 min to Menzies. Tickets can be bought in Kalgoorlie from the visitors centre. $45 from Kalgoorlie, $57 from Laverton

Get around

Menzies is not large and the majority of sights line either side of a 300m long stretch of Shenton Street.

See

For such a small town, the places of interest in Menzies are surprisingly informative. Almost every building has an information board explaining the history and significance of what you are looking at. Dotted around the streets at relevant places are larger than life-size metal silhouette figures of miners, bakers, police, prostitutes and priests captioned with quotes from past residents that give a voice to bloodless names and dates.

• Former Lady Shenton Hotel, Cnr Shenton and Brown St, -29.693777°, 121.028745°. With a graceful façade befitting its name, this was the pre-eminent hotel during Menzies' golden years. The stonewalled rear section forms its humble beginnings in 1896. The foundations are said to conceal a time capsule containing coins and a newspaper. The hotel built its reputation and was extended several times under successive owners who, despite the hotel's sterling reputation, ended their tenure in bankruptcy. A fire in 1902 sparked a significant addition of the brick street frontage, including five bedrooms and a billiard room. The town's declining fortunes took the hotel down with it and it ceased trade in 1922. The visitors centre occupies the building now.
• Original Menzies Hotel, Cnr Shenton and Brown St, -29.69341°, 121.02914°. The first hotel in town and the only one to have never caught fire. Now a private residence.
• Old bakers oven, Shenton St (in the vacant lot on the right of the Menzies Hotel), -29.69253°, 121.02854°. No one is certain when the oven was built, only that a succession of owners kept it in use until the 1940s. The tin shed bakehouse and accompanying store are long gone, leaving only a disintegrating block of bricks hung with a heavy iron door that must have seen a lot of loaves come out of it over the years.
• Former Railway Hotel (Menzies Hotel), 22 Shenton St, -29.6929°, 121.0287°. The last original pub left standing. It was renamed in 1990 but operated as the Railway Hotel since at least 1896. The present building is the hotel's second iteration - built after the original wood and corrugated iron structure burnt down in 1902. It was known for having the cheapest beer in town - a reputation it still holds today due only to a lack of competition.
• Railway Station, Walsh St, -29.6958°, 121.0310°. When the rail line was extended north from Kalgoorlie in 1898 the sizeable railway station was quickly built and for a while was the head of the line. Under the long green roof were separate offices for the station master and clerk, a lady's waiting room, public toilets, parcel room and ticket office divided by a central arched entrance. The local newspaper criticised its extravagance. Nonetheless it was opened with much fanfare and brought in many goods, people and wealth to Menzies. The station stayed in service but declined over the years, finally receiving its last train in 1974. The building is now used by a mining company who've locked it away behind a fence to keep visitors off the junk they are storing there, but you can walk around the perimeter and along the platform edge for a pretty good look.
• Town Hall, Shenton St, -29.6945°, 121.0292°. The most significant building in town started out far more diminutively in 1896 as council offices. Subsequent extensions completed by 1901 added the stone façade and clock tower, oddly without a clock for the first few years. In 1904 a clock was ordered from London, but the steamship SS Orizaba that held the clock ran aground off the coast of Fremantle. Though much of the cargo was salvaged, Menzies' new clockface was not recovered and was thought to have sunk to the sea floor with the ship. The clock tower remained empty till 1999 when four new clock faces were built in Perth and installed to celebrate the Millennium.
• Old Post office, Cnr Shenton and Brown St, -29.69379°, 121.02917°. The original post office on this site was little more than a wood framed tent. A more substantial structure was built in 1896 on Brown Street, designed by legendary public works architect George Temple-Poole. An extension was made in 1903 out to Shenton Street to provide enough room for the 26 staff. The town's decline led to its closure in 1952, when it became a private residence. The owners demolished the original Brown Street section, leaving the part you see today.
• Menzies Cemetery, -29.6791°, 121.0226°. Headstones spread over a wide area document the harshness of life in early days of the frontier township. Most of the graves here are from 1900 to 1910 when accidents, illness, alcoholism and Typhoid epidemics ended numerous hard lived lives. The names and dates on some headstones have been weathered unreadable by the passing of time but a dozen ornately cut tin headstones, unique to the area, have endured as defiant monuments to the ingenuity of people forced to make do with little, even in death.
• Tank Hill, Kensington St, -29.6916°, 121.0399°. The site of the town's previous and current water supply. There is not much to see up there but it's a good overview of the town when looking down.
• Lake Ballard, -29.425833°, 120.751944°. An icon of weird Australia are the 51 forlorn statues standing on the dazzlingly salt encrusted surface of Lake Ballard. The lake stretches for almost 100km but the nook that everyone visits is 51 km from Menzies. The sculptures are the work of British artist Antony Gormley who was commissioned to create the artwork for the 2003 Perth International Arts Festival. The figures began life as laser scans of current Menzies residents. Each scan was shrunk by two-thirds, creating truncated figures that were cast in an alloy containing molybdenum, vanadium and titanium - metals found in the local rock. Most people tend to view them in early morning or late afternoon, not only because the low sun colours the hills a radiant orange and throws gangling shadows from the feet of sculpture and viewer alike, but mostly because the midday sun makes the scintillating surface of the lake unbearably hot. The viewing site begins at the base of a domed hill from which the sculptures radiate haphazardly outwards toward the horizon. The closer ones get the majority of visitors, making the area around them smudged with muddy foot prints. Avid photographers should head to the disregarded brothers on the outskirts where the pristine blanket of salt makes for more striking shots. During the day insistent flies are phenomenally abundant but they retreat after sundown. A net and/or repellent would make things more comfortable. Other than walking around and having your photo taken with your arm around your new spindly metal friend, there isn't much else to do. A climb to the top of the domed hill at the entry provides a different perspective. A narrow path (steep in places) spirals up the side to the relatively flat hilltop. Snake hill is 3 km further up the road and gives a wider view of the lake.

• Niagara Dam, Niagara Dam Rd (head north on the Goldfields Hwy to the Kookynie turn off, 42 km from Menzies; the Niagara Dam turnoff is a further 16 km), -29.40442°, 121.42904°. Few sights in the Goldfieds typify the unbridled ambition of the Goldrush era more than Niagara Dam. Prospectors drawn to the desert by their thirst for gold were all too often defeated by a thirst for water. The importance of a permanent water source, not to quench the rapidly growing population's thirst as much as the equally demanding steam trains, was great enough to drive an engineering feat that, looking at it today, is difficult to believe was accomplished in 1897. The 18-m-high dam builds on a natural rock ridge that forms a natural reservoir, capped with the 173-m-long concrete wall. Construction materials had to be transported overland from Coolgardie by Afghan camel trains. This arduous trek was shortened later when the rail line extended to Menzies. A namesake town was established soon after construction began, intended to service the planned Leonora-Coolgardie rail line and nearby goldmines with water from the dam, but by the time of completion the gold had run out and town was in abrupt decline. After its completion in May 1897, the discovery of abundant underground water at Kookynie made Niagara Dam all but irrelevant. With the decline of Niagara township and a less impressive than expected capacity, the dam ultimately was never utilised and it quickly faded to a historical oddity. Today it's a popular camping spot and welcome chance to get wet in a region where salt lakes predominate. Though rain is infrequent here, the dam fills quickly and is always full enough to go for a swim. There a two short hiking trails around the dam and along the break away area. The site of the Niagara township is about 3 km eastwards from the dam turnoff. A sign marks the spot where the short lived community once stood with four pubs on each corner of the crossroads of the only two streets in town. A wander across the rubbly ground will reveal lines of mud bricks, bottle fragments and other interesting detritus that, with a bit of imagination, show the lives of people.

Do

• Catch Yabbies, Niagara Dam. The dam is full of these delicious freshwater crustacean. Throw in a trap after lunch time and you will have a couple yabbies for dinner.
• Fossick for relics. The people might have left the ghost towns long ago but they left behind still remains. Keep your eyes to the ground when walking about and you will find 100-year-old bottles and rusting nails without much trouble.
• Go for a Hike, Niagara Dam. Two short hiking trails follow maker posts and interpretive panels describing fauna, flora and other features along the way. The Breakaway Trail is 1.6 km and follows the main stone ridge that the dam in built on and doubles back along a waterway to return to the dam. The shorter Round-the-Dam Trail makes a 1.1-km loop along the reservoir edge and along the top of the dam wall.
• Take a long bike ride (Menzies Classic). First weekend of June. The annual event has been going since 1928, becoming Australia's richest road race and attracting some serious riders. The race starts in Kalgoorlie and finishes the first leg in Menzies then continues on to Leonora. A participants ride is run at the same time if you are not so competitive and want to do the ride at a leisurely speed.
• Menzies Water Playground, cnr Shenton St & Walsh St, -29.69588°, 121.02906°. Sunrise - Sunset daily. If your kids need to cool off in 30+ degree heat, this children's water playground offers that chance without the need in going to a pool. The park uses recycled water. Free 2020-02-16

Eat

Isolation and the general smallness of most country towns hinder them from having abundant eating options. Menzies can offer even less.

Self-catering is a practical option though you will need to be prepared as there are no supermarkets in town. Menzies Hotel have a very limited range of tinned or dry groceries. Stocking up in Kalgoorlie or Leonora with enough supplies to keep you going till you reach the other side will avert an empty stomach.

If you can't be bothered cooking after the long drive the Menzies Hotel sometimes has food to go with your beer.

• Achievable Outback Cafe, 36 Shenton Street, -29.69345°, 121.02913°, +61 8 9024 2858, achievable_outback_cafe@bigpond.com. M-F 8:30AM - 4:30PM, Sa-Su 9:30AM - 3:30PM. You wouldn't think of quality coffee and cakes in the middle of WA, but the quality is high at this federation era corner cafe. 2020-02-16

Drink

Menzies once had 13 bars. That number has declined to a solitary choice, so if you are particular about your booze it would be prudent to BYO as the nearest bottle shop is a few hundred kilometres away.

• Menzies Hotel (Former Railway Hotel), 22 Shenton St, -29.69319°, 121.02875°, +61 8 9024-2043, menzies.hotel@bigpond.com.au. M-F 7:30AM-9PM, Sa-Su 8AM-9PM. The only pub left in town outlasted the others by a hundred years, so it can't be too bad. They have a limited range of beer, the bar lounge smells bit musty and shows its age but that's part of the charm of the outback pub. Depending on the season they may also serve counter meals that are said to be quite substantial. Meals $17.50. Rooms: double $90; single $70 2020-02-16

Sleep

Your options are very limited if you want a bed. Best to have either camping gear or a caravan if you're traveling to Menzies.

• Grand Hotel Kookynie, 34 Britannia St, Kookynie (65km north from Menzies), -29.3364°, 121.4909°, +61 8 9031 3010. If you don't mind trekking, this pub hotel has the bed you might need. Call ahead to see if it's available. 2018-11-03
• Lake Ballard camping, -29.44893°, 120.60337°. Camp sites along the lakeside are available in specified areas. Facilities are not any more than a single "long drop" toilet and a couple of concrete fire-rings. A water tank is on site but you would be better off bringing your own. The same applies to food. free, but space is limited 2020-02-16
• Menzies Caravan Park, Shenton St, -29.6941°, 121.0287°, +61 8 9024-2702, +61 8 9024-2594 (After hours), visitorcentre1@menzies.wa.gov.au. A spartan yard with the charm of a parking lot, it'll provide a secure spot to park your caravan and take a hot shower in the donga style ablutions. Tent dwellers looking for soft grass to pitch their home should bring a mattress or expect an uncomfortable night on the hard concrete slabs. Grass is coming soon, the park managers promise. Powered $26; un-powered $20 2020-02-16
• The sign outside the Menzies Hotel (see drink) says they have rooms but the owners are not too sure if they want you to stay in them. The rooms themselves look a tad worn and dated if you care about décor, but they are your only option for a bed.
• Niagara Dam camping, -29.40428°, 121.42816°. There are maintained camp sites both above and below the dam wall. The lower sites are larger and quieter, though the sites up top are right on the water. There are toilets at each site and numerous concrete fire-rings. Food and water are DIY. Bring your own firewood.

Stay safe

Falling into an abandoned mineshaft is not an inconceivable danger as the area is riddled with more than 100 years of mining activity. Many sites close to town have been filled in or otherwise rendered safe but mine sites in more remote areas are left open in various states of collapse. The area around Niagara Dam has numerous mine shafts along the access road. Most of these holes are not signposted or marked on maps, but you can readily identify a likely mine by the white pile of quartz or greenish waste soil nearby. Nonetheless, perfectly safe looking ground may be honeycombed with old tunnels mere meters underground that could, and do, give way without warning. It would be prudent to tell someone where you are going if you plan to go out exploring and be careful about where you step.

Connect

Phone

Mobile phone coverage is limited to the Telstra 4G network, and only within town. The signal becomes variable to non-existent the further away you get. Coverage maps show it's possible to get a signal with an external antenna as far away as Lake Ballard, but you should not rely on it. Other networks aren't available in Menzies.

A satellite phone would be useful to have in an emergency if you intend to spend an extended amount of time off the beaten track.

Internet

Mobile internet on the Telstra 4G network has the same coverage as the phones do. The Visitors Centre have two internet connected computers you can get online for $2 for 15 min or $6.50 for an hour.

Cope

Money

If you need it quickly, the old post office has an ANZ ATM on the Brown St side. The visitors centre provides banking services for other banks. If you need something special it might be worth asking them.

Go next

• Leonora - The fascinating Gwalia ghost town is the main attraction but the still living town is a comfortable place to shake off the dust and restock your supplies.
• Kalgoorlie-Boulder - A sprightly gold mining town with enough history and vibrant eateries to fill the giant hole in the ground where its fortune comes from.