The Perth Mint: Tour and Gold Pour

The Western Australian gold rush began with the first discovery of gold in the late 1890s. Experience this historic story for the search for gold at The Perth Mint Gold Exhibition. See the largest coin ever made - it weighs one tonne of pure gold and is valued at over AUD 50 million! Some other historic coins you will get to see include the first coin produced in Perth - an 1899 gold sovereign. There's also the first copper decimal coin made in Australia - a 1-cent piece dated 1966, apart from the two largest legal tender coins in the world - the 10-kilo Australian Lunar Gold and Silver Bullion Coins.

Admire the most dazzling display of natural gold nuggets, wafers, and crystals in Australia. This includes Newmont's Normandy Nugget, the second-largest gold nugget in existence - it weighs 25.5 kgs. Speaking of kilos, if you've ever wondered what your weight is worth in gold, you can step onto the Mint's special scales to find out! While you're at it, have your name or a quote engraved onto an aluminum, bronze, gold-plated, 99.99% pure gold, or 99.9% pure silver medallion. These cost upwards of AUD 17 and are ready to take away in minutes.

Marvel at how molten gold can be poured to form a solid gold bar. Interestingly, the 19th-century brick walls of the melting house here are literally embedded with gold dust, thanks to years of continuous refining. Before you leave, visit the retail store and shop from an exclusive range of giftware and souvenirs. Later, take time to relax and reflect in the serene surroundings of the inner courtyard café. Sip on a delicate Devonshire Tea in the alfresco dining area, which is circled by turn-of-the-century buildings and outlined with a stylized 19th-century miners’ campsite. All across the campsite, you will find true-to-size replicas of Australia’s most famous nuggets. Choose one of these model finds and take a photo with it as a souvenir.