Some road trips follow rivers. Others trace mountain ranges or historic stock routes.
Western Australia’s Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail follows something far more unexpected — a pipeline.
Stretching from the Perth Hills to the historic goldfields of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, this fascinating road trip follows the route of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, one of Australia’s greatest engineering achievements. Built in the early 1900s, the pipeline transformed life in Western Australia’s arid interior, delivering precious water hundreds of kilometres east to support booming gold rush towns.
Today, the trail offers travellers a unique journey through history, heritage and some of the state’s most distinctive landscapes.
Distance: Approximately 650km one way
Route: Mundaring → Northam → Cunderdin → Merredin → Southern Cross → Coolgardie → Kalgoorlie-Boulder
Highlights: Historic pumping stations, gold rush history, Wheatbelt landscapes, silo art, heritage towns and the story of C.Y. O’Connor’s engineering masterpiece
The journey begins at Mundaring Weir, nestled in the forested Perth Hills.
This impressive reservoir marks the starting point of the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme and remains one of Western Australia’s most significant engineering landmarks. Visitors can learn about the pipeline’s remarkable history at the former Pumping Station No.1, now a museum dedicated to the story of the project and the vision of engineer C.Y. O’Connor.
Standing beside the weir, it’s hard to imagine that water from this location still travels hundreds of kilometres across the state today.
Following the pipeline east, Northam provides a welcoming introduction to the Wheatbelt region.
Known for its heritage architecture and scenic Avon River setting, Northam is also home to one of the first large-scale silo art installations in Western Australia. It’s an excellent place to stop, stretch the legs and enjoy the hospitality of one of the state’s most important regional centres.
The next stop is Cunderdin, where the story of the pipeline comes to life.
The town’s historic Pumping Station No.3 offers visitors a glimpse into the enormous effort required to keep water flowing to the goldfields. The site now forms part of the Cunderdin Museum, where exhibits explore both the pipeline’s history and life in the Wheatbelt through the decades.
Located roughly halfway along the trail, Merredin is a natural place to spend a night and explore more of the region’s history.
Visitors can discover additional silo art, learn about the town’s role during World War II at the Merredin Military Museum and explore local landmarks that reflect the town’s long connection to both agriculture and the railway.
The surrounding landscape also begins to transition from the rolling farmland of the Wheatbelt to the more rugged country that lies further east.
Named after the constellation that helped guide early prospectors through the region, Southern Cross was once at the heart of Western Australia’s gold rush.
Today, visitors can explore heritage buildings, learn about local history at the Yilgarn History Museum and experience the slower pace of life in one of the state’s oldest goldfields towns.
The region is also home to striking granite outcrops and unique landscapes that showcase the beauty of Western Australia’s inland environment.
Few towns tell the story of the Western Australian gold rush quite like Coolgardie.
Once one of the largest and wealthiest settlements in the colony, Coolgardie played a pivotal role in the events that led to the construction of the pipeline. Today, visitors can wander wide heritage streets, admire beautifully preserved architecture and learn about the prospectors, cameleers and pioneers who helped shape the region.
The town’s historic cemetery also offers a fascinating insight into life on the goldfields during the late 1800s.
The journey concludes in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, where the pipeline’s precious cargo finally arrives.
Born from the discovery of gold in the 1890s, Kalgoorlie remains one of Australia’s most iconic mining cities. Visitors can explore grand heritage buildings, discover the region’s mining history and learn how the pipeline helped transform a remote outpost into one of the country’s most significant gold rush settlements.
A visit to Mount Charlotte provides a fitting finale to the journey, offering panoramic views across the city and the final destination of one of Australia’s greatest engineering achievements.
The Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail is more than a road trip — it’s a journey through one of the most remarkable stories in Australian history.
Along the way you’ll discover pioneering engineering, gold rush heritage, welcoming country towns and landscapes that showcase the vast scale of Western Australia. Whether you’re exploring historic pumping stations, admiring Wheatbelt silo art or standing at the end of the pipeline in Kalgoorlie, every stop reveals another chapter in this extraordinary story.
Find great caravan parks and campgrounds across Western Australia with the Caravan & Camping WA Guide.
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