Raising the profile of the Northern Goldfields Region

We have assisted our local communities to develop and deliver quality tourism and heritage initiatives and major regional events that raise the profile of these communities and the broader Goldfields region. Through our Minara Community Foundation and community assistance funding, we have contributed over $750,000 in community funding to support local tourism strategies.  

Early grants to the Goldfields Tourism Network Association assisted with the development and marketing of the Golden Quest Discovery Trail, a 965km regional trail of diverse landscapes, rich in history and heritage that includes the Shires of Leonora and Laverton in which our Murrin Murrin operations are situated.   We have also supported Indigenous art galleries and art collectives in Laverton, Leonora and Menzies through our funding activities.

In the Shire of Laverton, the Great Beyond Visitor Centre and regional museum received grants from our Minara Community Foundation for the preservation of heritage collections, display of artefacts and museum upgrades.  The community grants complement major expansion plans linked to government funding for the Great Beyond Visitor Centre and sealing of The Outback Way linking Laverton in Western Australia, with Queensland via Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. These major initiatives are expected to encourage greater visitor numbers and associated tourism opportunities for the Shire.

The Shire of Leonora recognised the potential for greater diversification of its tourism product, and the economic and social benefit that comes from more tourists to the Shire.  A review of the tourism landscape was undertaken and action plans aimed at increasing tourism put in place.  Our Minara Community Foundation contributed to a series of grants to assist the Shire of Leonora with these tourism strategies, including the Leonora Heritage and Geo-trails.

The Leonora Heritage Trail through the main streets of the town incorporates some thirty heritage sites and includes interpretative signage brought together by an online map and guidebook. 

The Leonora Geotrail involved the development of a trail of sites selected for their geological significance and accessibility as part of existing tourism trails.  The project incorporated the geo-interpretation of some 20 sites via directional and interpretational signage and an associated mobile App.

The Gwalia ghost town and museum is a major tourist attraction in the Shire of Leonora and features significantly in the Shire’s tourism plan.  The old Gwalia town site precinct, listed on the Western Australian Register of Heritage Places, is the most comprehensive miners’ settlement remaining in Western Australia.   Minara Community Foundation assisted with an exhibition depicting the people and places connected to historic Gwalia.  The Shire worked with a multimedia journalist, photographer and producer to tell the story of Gwalia’s people and history in two stages.  The exhibition was a feature of the Perth Heritage Days festival and was permanently installed in the Gwalia Museum for visitors and the community to enjoy.

The Leonora Heritage Trail and the Gwalia Exhibition projects were finalists in the WA Heritage Council Heritage Awards 2017, tourism products category.  A representative from the Shire of Leonora said at the time, “The Minara Community Foundation enables the Shire of Leonora to develop creative initiatives and deliver quality tourism and heritage products that raise the profile of not only Gwalia and Leonora, but also the WA Goldfields region.” 

A significant contribution towards major regional community events has featured in our support of regional tourism strategies and we have been long-term supporters of the Leonora Golden Gift, a nationally recognised athletic carnival (with associated community events) and the Goldfields Cyclassic, a historic cycle race dating back to 1928.  The participating shires consider these events to increase tourism appeal and opportunities for community participation, raising the profile of the northern Goldfields region.  A Shire of Leonora representative said, “The continued support offered by the Minara Community Foundation is not only appreciated by the Shire of Leonora, but the whole community and ensures the success of the Leonora Golden Gift.  Minara Community Foundation has contributed to many successful projects developed over a number of years.”