Mount Magnet, the oldest surviving gold settlement of its region, is four and a half hours drive east of Geraldton on the Great Northern Highway.
The first pastoralists, Watson and Jones, walked their sheep from Geraldton to Mount Magnet in the late 1870s and settled at Yowergabbie and Boogardie stations respectively. Gold was discovered here in July 1891 and amazingly rich areas around the settlement were found, including Poverty Flats 'where they dug it up like potatoes'. Mount Magnet was proclaimed a township soon after these gold discoveries. The remains of other settlements nearby, such as Lennonville, can still be seen. There is much to see here; remains of the early gold rush era, magnificent granite breakaway country and, in season, spectacular carpets of wildflowers.
The prominent hill rising above the township was named West Mount Magnet in 1854 by surveyor Robert Austin who noticed that its magnetic qualities interfered with his compass. It has since had its Aboriginal name reinstated, 'Warramboo', meaning campfire camping place.
Mount Magnet provides easy access to the historic towns of Cue, Sandstone and Yalgoo. There are many opportunities to do one-day self drives from Mount Magnet to surrounding attractions.
After the winter rains, the bush comes alive with colour. Go on a wildflower tour to see carpets of everlastings, mulla mulla tails, and delicate flowers of native bushes. The season is best between July and late September. After this varieties of ground cover, late species of everlastings, and flowering trees and plants can still be seen. The area is also a treat for the bird watcher as there are many beautiful species of birds to be found.
An open air film theatre operates during the summer months. Horseracing meetings are usually held between May and October, and there are other interesting attractions to see: the Historical Society Museum, a variety of historic buildings, Mount Warramboo Tourist Lookout, The Granites, an amphitheatre, heritage walk trails, heritage drives and gold detecting.
Hotels, motels, a caravan park, backpacker hostel, a lodge, and nearby station stays are available.
