A view of historic Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie
Every two or three weeks I receive an email from someone who wants to move to Kalgoorlie, requesting information. I try to give them honest practical assistance and encouragement.
I understand why they want to come and empathise with them. The people who contact me generally have families and want to know what it’s like to live here. Here is a recent email:
“Hi there, great website we look you up to find out whats happening in town. My husband is flying from New Zealand into Kalgoorlie on the 2nd of Oct to do the job hunt, house hunt etc. We will move over when he has a place etc. Us being myself, two young boys of 4 and 6 and a daughter of 10. My hubby is after a dump truck driving job. We have booked his Marcsta course, sent away for the AFP clearance and updated his CV. We both have our HR license and although not in a mine we have 6 years of truck driving experience. am hoping it wont take long before we are altogether again. Any suggestions would be greatly received. One of my many questions is about vehicles. I have internet searched my heart out but not finding it easy to track down used vehicles, prefer a private sale as car sales yards are all marked up. Could you tell me please is Kalgoorlie the place to purchase is would it be Perth? Thanks for listening to the life story, look forward to your response.”
Here is another:
“Interesting blog you have. I have read most of it and when I have finished this email I will read the rest. I was wondering if you could help me with some information? My husband, 6yr old daughter and I are wanting to move from New Zealand. We have two choices, Katanning or Kalgoorlie. We are hoping to jumpstart our lives again. We will be comming over with very little so the decision we make is important. My husband has been soft and hard lanscaping for 14 yrs and we have run our business. Do you know if there is a demand for skilled concrete layers,pavers bricklayers or building labourers? And if so would you know the avarage wage? I would so appreciate any info you could give.”
I always respond that Kalgoorlie is a great place to live. The primary schools, shopping facilities, services and sporting/cultural options are all good for families.
I let these people know there is a shortage of medical specialists, question marks about the hospital and junior public high school, a scarcity of rental accommodation (which is getting more expensive) and it’s bloody hot in summer.
I also caution them about expecting work immediately on arrival. The labor shortage means work is easy to find, but the wages won’t necessarily reflect the cost of living unless people have skills, contacts and/or luck.
There were some emotive comments from the Salvation Army in Saturday’s Kalgoorlie Miner about couples who live in tents or on the street because they can’t afford housing while they look for work.
People want to move here because high wages are on offer, but not everyone has the skills to obtain those jobs. My advice to families is to apply for work before coming here. If it’s not possible to find work in advance, the breadwinner should come alone in the first instance.
Sadly for Kalgoorlie-Boudler, the rental squeeze is going to restrict the city’s growth in the short term. We have people who want to live here but we can’t accommodate them at affordable prices.
This situation has only developed in the past 18 months and I’m not aware of a clear strategy to address it.
That said, I tell would-be residents that Kalgoorlie is a wonderful place to be if you have a good job and a good house. It’s a very welcoming place with a broad array of cultural/sporting activities for all ages.
Update: I no longer live in Kalgoorlie and can’t respond to questions with any authority.
Hi,
I have been offered a job in Kalgoorlie as an Electrician, my wage is $80,000 inc of stat and holiday pay, is this high enough to comfotably live in the area with a wife and 2 kids or will my wife need to work also.
I look forward to your email
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Is that $80,000 including superannuation? That would mean about $70k plus super and holiday pay.
You should be okay on that. A year ago I would have said no worries. Rent has climbed steeply in the past six months, and you may have to pay up to $400 a week for a house if you can find one.
If your wife wants to work part time she won’t have any trouble finding a job.
lookin too move out to kalgoolie for work as a bricklayer
Hi,
Looking to move to Kalgoorlie in search of work this coming New Year.
Just wondering are there many jobs around that provides training, instead of experienced and qualified workers?
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Sam, there are plenty of jobs in hospitality and retail, and they might offer basic training.
Any trade jobs, or in the mines, you should have qualifications already before trying your luck in Kalgoorlie.
ive got a job offer in kalgoorlie as a security guard in the mines but i need to get my own accomotation is there any places whitch is cheap single beds like dongers can you help please
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Try the Boulder Accommodation Village, phone 1800 001 266 or the Kalgoorlie Accommodation Village, 1800 004 800.
Heya mate,
looking at joining the mining sector there in kalgoorlie as a graduate electrical engineer.
im abit worried because im not sure what graduates start at in kalgoorlie however im kind of sure that the “uncomfortability” of living so far away from everything would start things around 80k.
any advice around for a student ? what should i be expecting?
thanks
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Gabe, 80k is probably a good starting point. If you share a house you should save money on that income.
Hello
I have the opportunity to be transfer to kalgoorlie from South Africa. Is housing a promlem and do i have to worry about schools, as my kids are 2 and 6 years old.
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Hello Gerhard, rental accommodation can be difficult to find. If possible, you should travel ahead of your family and organise this. Perhaps they could stay in Perth for a while?
Primary schools are okay, so you should have no problem with children that age. My kids went to Hannans and that was great.
North Kalgoorlie and St Mary’s also have good reputations.
Let me know if you want more information in Afrikaans and my wife Juliet will reply.
Been in Kalgoorlie 4-5 weeks (from NZ), my partner and I are both employed at different mine sites and we have found a place to live… we have a 2 bedroom place in Boulder and we are wanting to get another working person in to share costs. Anyone interested?
hi there,
im coming over on 8th Sept……………have my HR loking for work in the mines….lookng for shared accommodation……..is it still avail ?Thanx,
Denise
Hey Denise saw your comment on looking for work/mines, Kalgoorlie, how did you go?
I am palnning to relocate in kalgoolie from melbourne and want to jump into a career in OHS & E. I have little experience in the industry and currently read for Certificate IV in OHS. I heared Kalgoolie is a great place to live. Do you know are there opportunities for OHS & E people?? I got to know its a culturally diversified town as well where I have always loved to live. And rent for a room per week in the area i want to know as well… Thank you.
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Ranil, it’s six months since I left Kalgoorlie and the economic situation has changed a lot in that time. I really don’t feel qualified to comment any more.
I’ve heard a few mines are closing down because of low metals prices, so I suspect the employment situation has changed.
Try Desert Rest Guest House for friendly and affordable accommodation. Long term, short term, close to town and shops, close to the hospital and railway station. A great place if new to town.
hello I’m in france and I would go live in Australia has more precisely Kalgoorlie I would like to know if the jobs are easily accessible especially in the mining and housing flat or hostels are easily and cheaply.
thank you in advance for all the answers that you can help me!
Hi William, Jobs are eaily accessible especially in Mining, you can apply to recruitment companies such as, ITS, Skilled, GPH, Got em’, and you could call the Kalgoorlie Miner which is the local paper for recently advertised jobs.
Desert Rest Guesthouse is close to town and to the Super Pit, it is friendly and affordable accommodation. The contact number is (08) 90218892 or you can email the manager at desertrest@iinet.net.au.
There are single rooms and twin rooms available. It is very clean.
Hi there,
Great article!
I’m just curious… My boyfriend and I are looking to move to Kalgoorlie. My boyfriend lived there for a year and worked in Truck Center as a storemen. He’s hoping that there would still be work available for him, he has his forklift license, but nothing else. Only a little experience ontop of his 2 days in the mines (shut down work) and Truck Center.
I’m also wondering if I’ll have any luck finding work? Part time or full time, I’m not too fussy. I have retail experience, but no skills as such other than Website Design which I want to do part time (we own a small business doing it).
Any help would be greatly appreciated, as it’s not easy to find jobs on the net for Kal other than skilled jobs.
Thanks!
Amie Etheridge & Jarrad Duim
Twitter: mgorey
says:
I left Kalgoorlie in May, before the boom started to bust, so it’s hard for me to comment.
Back then you would have had no trouble finding work.
Several mines have closed, so I expect the situation is much different now.
Hello all –
I live and work in Kalgoorlie.
The gold mining sector is strong however a majority of the nickel operations in the region have been put into care and maintenance due to ailing nickel prices.
In addition BHP Ravensthorpe have laid off some 3000 workers.
What this means is there are literally hundreds of skilled, available and local people seeking employment.
The dream of coming to Kalgoorlie, driving a dump truck and earning 80K per year doing it is hard. Get in line behind the heap of people who have paid some $4,000 to do a dump truck course and still dont have a job.
$4000 for driving course who provides this course? interested, desperate.
Hi
We own a share house in Kalgoorlie which we let by the room. We advertise it as suited to students but we have a range of people rent from us. It might suit someone who is moving to the area with no furniture who doesn’t want to commit to renting a house on their own and doesn’t want to pay a lot in rent. Rooms are $140/wk and include wireless broadband, lawn mowing,weekly cleaner and all amenities (gas, elec, water). Basically nothing to do but turn up with your clothes and don’t need to clean up a whole house when you leave. Also, each room has a separate lease so if other people don’t pay their rent it doesn’t affect them. It’s kind of a step up from a backpacker’s or hostel… If anyone’s interested I could put them in contact with our property manager there.
Cheers,
Cherie.
Hi
I’m interested in the room for rent from Cherie if you could send me the contact details that would be great.
thanks Sam
Hi Cherie do you still run this accomodation service and what is the cost of a room per week there now please?
Many thanks
Karin
Hi
Yes, we currently have one fully furnished room available at $130 per week. If you want to have a look through, or find out a bit more about the four other people in the house, give Jessica Shaw a call on 0437 883071 or Carla Burrows on 0417 992 919.
Cheers,
Cherie M
Hi Cherie
I am interested in the room you have for rent. Can you send me the property manager’s contact details?
thanks
hi Cherie..are u far from the super pit n is the accom still avail…thanx
Just sending through my email for Sam, but I replied to the email you sent, so maybe he already has it… alm3@optusnet.com.au
Hi, I have about 10 months mine site experience all up, finishied postgraduate diploma in metallurgy in 2005 in WASM. Done my bachelor degree in China. I have been staying home raising my kids since 2006, I am planning to go back to Kalgoorlie and find a job in mining sector again.
There has been a lots changes since ecnomic down turn, have no idea how hard for me to find a job in Kal agian, can anyone help? I am prepared to do anything, lab work , sentry, hose up just to get into mining industry again. ideal job would be metallurgical technician to start what I do.
cheers!
Hi, I have been asked to apply for a position at one of the mining sites at Kalgoorlie. I live in South Africa and would like to know how much the housing will cost and also what do you recommend I do for transport. I guess I would need 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms for the accommodation. Is there anything else that I must take in consideration before moving there?
Thanks for the blog.
cheers
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Fred, this link will give you an idea of rental prices: http://ax.lv/21
My name is Jean kabamba. I just completed my cert II in Resource Processing at Tafe Leeerville.I plan to move to karlgorlie to look for job in Mining .Wich advice can u give me ?
Jean
Hi
Ive been offered a job as a graduate geologist in coolgardie so am now moving over from nz. The guy ive been dealing with said that most people live in kalgoorlie but i was just wondering which parts of kalgoorlie are the ‘good’ parts, and also whats coolgardie like as a town.
I want to rent for now, and im idealy looking for a furnished place but can set myself up as well. ive looked at whats avalible and know the prices but would like to know where the safe parts are asim by myself
Thanks
Sarah
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Hi Sarah, I left Kalgoorlie three years ago. At that time Boulder was considered rougher than most parts of Kalgoorlie. Coolgardie was regarded like Boulder. It’s also 30 minutes drive, with roos a danger at night. There are good and bad places everywhere though.
Hi we are thinking of moving to kalgoorlie is it worth it is there jobs there we live in qld my hubby has his truck license …we have two children thats why i am asking whether its worth the move ??
thank you
Hi, moved to Kal as a grad geo, in temp accommodation at the moment plan to find a house sharing/ room to rent. Any adivse?
Tar
Hey there,
Would you be interested in finding a property to rent? My girlfriend and I need to find a rental by Monday next week
Cheers
Chris
Hi,
I am catching a train to Kal tomorrow. Have several jobs to look at in the pubs. I am actually a qualified dump truck operator but figure I should take anything i can get to start with, as these jobs come with accommodation. Just hoping the pubs aren’t too dodgy for a 24 year old woman to work and live in. Can you advise at all what pubs to avoid or the ones to definately go to – and the ones where the miners hang out? I intend to get into sports too to settle myself in a bit. I heard all the truck drivers in the superpit are women so maybe i can be crib relief or something.
Thanks for any tips.
hello i am a hard working bloke. have hr truck license. confined space ticket. saftey observation ticket. and a all round good worker and team player. seaking work in mines. if im wat ya looking for get back to me thanks.
hi all,
i am a mining engineering student here. any sugestions for me to get a vacation job during the summer holiday?
I have got a job offer as a registered nurse in Kalgoorlie hospital. I am offered $45k. We are a family of 3. Will this money be ok with a $1000 saving per month. My child is 8 years old. Is there good schools? Kindly advise please.
Mini, Kal is expensive place to live, average wage there is over double that, i dont rekon u will be able to save a grand a month, unless ur other half works too. Kals not that great of place either,
Hi,
My flights are booked, I’ll be arriving in Kalgoorlie on Australia Day. I’m a Civil Engineering student and I’ll be doing work experience over there. I need to find accommodation for a month for about 120 dollars a week. Please let me know if you know anyone, m number is 0402569346.
Thanks, Scott.
Hi
being offered a job in kalgoorlie on $90-$100k, is this a comfortable enough wage for me and my partner to live…what is it like to rent their, is it difficult to find a place, is it expensive, what is the avg rent for a 2-3 bedroom house?
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Follow this link to see prices for three-bedroom houses. They mostly range from $350 to $550 a week.