The sumptuous York Hotel, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

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Gold was discovered in Kalgoorlie in 1893 and so began a massive goldrush as hundreds flocked to the area seeking their fortunes. By the turn of the 20th century, it was a thriving, prosperous town with hotels and pubs providing accommodation, entertainment and meeting places for the predominantly male population. The city of Boulder was next-door and the two have now merged. Kalgoorlie was always seen as populated by the wealthy entrepreneurs and businessmen while Boulder was the home of the workers. At its height, Kalgoorlie-Boulder boasted approximately 93 hotels, with some historical records putting the number at around 104. The photo from Wikimedia Commons, courtesy Nacho-man.au, shows the magnificent York Hotel, built in 1900-1901 and an outstanding example of Federation Anglo-Dutch architecture. It reflects the enormous wealth generated by the gold boom.