Australia So Much to See
From Threeboys Road, turn right into Canopus Street, then turn right at the sign to Wimmera Hill Lookout. This overlooks the
area where the first gold discovering was made, as well as eastwards over the town. From the main road, this old ore crusher,
just down the hill from the lookout, marks the area where the gold was first found.
Southern Cross was named after the stars that guided early prospectors to their gold find. Southern Cross is the centre for
the Yilgarn Shire, Yilgarn meaning white stone or quartz in the local Aboriginal language.
Flooded mine pit at the former Fraser’s Gold Mine on the western approach to the town. Most gold mining in the area now takes
place Marvel Loch, thirty kilometres south east of the town.
Southern Cross Caravan Park, incorporating Sandalwood Motor Lodge, Coolgardie Road (Great Eastern Highway) on the eastern edge of
town, which gets very good reviews. Water fill thirty cents per twenty litres.
Free 24 hour camping off Hydra Street,
opposite the Railway Tavern, for fully self contained only.
Along Threeboys Road and near the monument commemorating the discovery
of gold, a number of tracks and cut off section of Canopus Street just past the monument are unofficially used for unserviced overnight
parking, but it is near the Great Eastern Highway so expect overnight traffic noise.
Public dump point,
potable water (twenty litres for ten cents), and off leash dog exercise area near sports oval/showground. No camping.
There are showers at the swimming pool, and entry to the pool is free.
For those not camping, there are motel rooms at Sandalwood
Motor Lodge within the Southern Cross Caravan Park, Southern Cross Motel in Canopus Street, and three hotels. All three hotels have
been modernised and offer accommodation.
The Club Hotel. The present building, built from bricks made in Coolgardie
that had gold specks in them in 1910, has had several renovations and additions since then. This was effectively the third on that
site, with the original dating back to 1888, being the first hotel on Southern Cross. It was also the Cobb and Co stop.
Many years ago, before caravan parks were in many inland towns, we were touring and ‘bush camping’ and wanted to stop in Southern
Cross, and looked for a caravan park for a good shower. On making enquiries we were told there was none, but we could stop at
the showground. With toilets only, we asked at the closest hotel if we could pay for a shower. They directed us to a bathroom
with a bath, where we were able to soak in lovely hot water. They would not take any money for this very welcome bath. I am guessing that this was at The Club Hotel, which has a history going back to the first hotel operating in Southern Cross in 1888.
The Railway Tavern has budget rooms, with shared bathrooms. When the railway line reached Southern Cross 1894, the
original building was constructed to take advantage of the close proximity to the railway station to the north of Southern Cross. This area became known as Railway Town. Burnt down in 1911, it was reconstructed that year.
The Palace Hotel is on the main road through Southern Cross soon after you come into town from the west. Originally constructed
in 1911, The Hotel was delicensed in 1956/7 due to economic struggles. From the mid-1960s until 1992 the Palace was run as a boarding
house (Anniversary Hostel). This heritage hotel was re-developed in 1992. In 1994 the Palace Hotel won the West Australian
Tourism Award for Excellence for the Best Renovated Hotel of the Year.
Yilgarn History Museum is housed in the heritage building constructed in 1892/1893 as the town's courthouse and mining registrar's
office (not photographed), which is the oldest government building east of Northam. It was restored in 1979 and opened as the
Yilgarn History Museum. Entry by donation.
One of the most appealing of the old buildings is the Southern Cross Coffee Lounge,
established 1896, and is still operating as a coffee shop (at right).
