Perth Mint

During the 19th century London’s Royal Mint established three branches in Australia. The last to be opened, just two years before Federation, was in Perth as a direct result of the gold-rushes that were then gripping the colony and stripping it of ready currency. Built of Rottnest limestone the buildings have endured and the work of the mint has continued to the present day. Although it no longer produces day-to-day currency, it is still the major refiner of WA gold and buys and sells it at market prices. They also mint a wide range of commemorative medals and coins. Several display rooms are open to the public. Some have windows through to the production area, others contain some of WA’s most historic and largest nuggets, and one contains a solid 400 oz gold bar. It’s half as big as a house brick but about 10 times as hard to pick up, and you’re allowed to have a try. There are regular guided tours and some culminate in a live ‘gold pour’, quite a spectacular sight.