January 5, 2024
Site Number 4 on the Golden Quest Discovery Trail, Ora Banda was once a town of 2000 people, at the 2021 census it was 12. The historic hotel, which has had a chequered history, burnt down in 2019, with it the local store and, sadly, is unlikely to be rebuilt again, only the walls remain. With it went access to the caravan park which now appears to house about 4 of the town’s population and camping is now on the open spaces of the old racecourse, last used for picnic races from 1995 to 1998. There is still a large nearby working mine, around 17kms to the South which we passed on the way and others in the district. As the road to Kalgoorlie is only 67km supplies for the few are not a major problem.
