The Consul of Italy, Sergio Federico Nicolaci, carried out a mission to Kalgoorlie-Boulder, where he visited the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM), also known as the Super Pit, one of the largest open-pit gold mines in the world. At the invitation of David Parker, WA Executive Director of the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), he also attended the launch event of the MCA’s latest publication, “Golden: The Rise of Industrial Gold”.
“The history of gold in Australia is deeply intertwined with the history of Italian immigration to Western Australia,” commented Consul Nicolaci. “The gold rush triggered by the discovery of gold in Kalgoorlie in 1893 transformed Western Australia into the main destination for Italian emigrants to Australia at the end of the 19th century, with the promise of new beginnings and broader horizons of prosperity. Italian miners, renowned for their tireless work ethic and proverbial ingenuity, toiled in ruthless conditions, driven by the hope of finding gold and securing a better future for their families. They overcame adversity and sometimes discrimination, contributing significantly to the prosperity of Western Australia. Their efforts—along with those of native communities—laid the foundations for the thriving mining industry that characterizes WA today.”
The Consul also held a series of meetings with several mining industry representatives, including Kristy Reilly, CEO of the Gold Industry Group; Fiona Murfitt, Vice President of Evolution Mining; Brooke Fowles, Director of Strategy at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy Western Australia; and Danielle Foster, representing Northern Star Resources.
In an interview with ABC Goldfields, the Consul recalled the historic contribution of Italian miners in Kalgoorlie in laying the foundations for today’s thriving industry and highlighted the potential synergies between the two countries.
