Named in 1900 after Dr Charles Laver, a keen prospector who rode his bicycle from Coolgardie to the area, Laverton was a booming gold mining town with a known reputation of being the wildest town in the west. These days, the town is home to Australia’s largest Nickel mine at Murrin Murrin as well as the second largest gold producing mine at Sunrise Dam.

Laverton’s best asset is its welcoming nature. With natural, cultural and historical riches, the region sets the perfect scene for tourists keen to immerse them selves in the true Australian Outback. Being the Western point of the Outback Way which leads travellers straight into Australia’s red heart, through Warburton to Uluru and Alice Springs and on to Winton in Queensland, Laverton is the perfect place to start (or end) your Outback experience. Other Outback gateways from Laverton include the Anne Beadell Highway to Coober Pedy in South Australia and the David Carnegie Road leading travellers to Western Australia’s Northern beauty.

Possibly Laverton’s biggest tourist attraction, the Great Beyond Explorers Hall of Fame uses cutting edge technology to bring to life the characters and stories of the past. The centre allows you to step back in time with several notable explorers who led challenging expeditions through central Australia during the mid to late 19th Century as they recount their stories of hardship and bravery. You are able to discover what it was like for women and pioneers of the Goldfields during the early days and learn about the valuable industries that sustain our inland. The Hall of Fame also houses the local Visitor Centre, Horizons Café and distinctive gift and souvenir shop. A quick stop at the Great Beyond will give you all the information you will need on other unique attractions within the town and surrounding areas.

The Golden Quest Discovery Trail is a 965km self drive tour which gives the adventurous type a fascinating look at the early history of the Goldfields region. Running from Coolgardie to Laverton, the trail winds through 25 interpretive sites, five of which are in the Laverton Shire.

Visit the Great Beyond Visitor Centre and  the Laverton Council to help you make the best of a real outback experience  . For great stories about the creation of the Outback Highway visit Len Beadell Australia's last great explorer