Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Australia Coolgardie Ben Prior Park

Ben Prior Park

One of the largest open-air museums in Western Australia.     

Coolgardie, Australia

Added By
Obscuravibes
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Ben Prior Park   Obscuravibes / Atlas Obscura User
Ben Prior Park   Obscuravibes / Atlas Obscura User
Ben Prior Park   Obscuravibes / Atlas Obscura User
Ben Prior Park   Obscuravibes / Atlas Obscura User
Ben Prior Park   Obscuravibes / Atlas Obscura User
Ben Prior Park   Obscuravibes / Atlas Obscura User
Ben Prior Park   Obscuravibes / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Ben Prior Park is a quirky, open-air museum that gives a fascinating insight into the history of Coolgardie, a small town in Western Australia, once the third largest town in the state.

The park is named after Ben Prior, a prospector that arrived in the area in 1932 before setting up a fuel and mechanical workshop. Originally constructed in the 1960s, Prior decided to show off his collection of machinery and relics, many of which were pieces from the original gold rush in the late 1800s. Some of these mining items were rare and exposure to the elements without cover meant that over time, they were damaged and in need of renovation. 

The town of Coolgardie was established in 1892 when gold was first discovered in the area. This caused a mass migration of people looking to cash in on this finding. This rush soon slowed in the early 1900s as the quantities of gold decreased, leading to unemployment and a general decline in the town. This story is told in Ben Prior Park through the many sculptures and original pieces of equipment from the era.

In 2019, the park received a much-needed boost of funding, and with this came a redesign with new signs, paint, and more shelter for the interesting artifacts. The park is said to be one of the largest open-air museums in the state of Western Australia. 

 

 

Related Tags

Museums Sculpture Gardens Outsider Art

Know Before You Go

There is plenty space for street parking beside Ben Prior Park. 

Community Contributors

Added By

Obscuravibes

Published

January 25, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Ben Prior Park
59 Bayley St
Coolgardie, 6429
Australia
-30.954991, 121.165395
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The World's Tallest Bin

Kalgoorlie, Australia

miles away

Widgiemooltha Golden Eagle Nugget

Widgiemooltha, Australia

miles away

Disappointment Rock

Norseman, Australia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Australia

Australia

Oceania

Places 610
Stories 94

Nearby Places

The World's Tallest Bin

Kalgoorlie, Australia

miles away

Widgiemooltha Golden Eagle Nugget

Widgiemooltha, Australia

miles away

Disappointment Rock

Norseman, Australia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Australia

Australia

Oceania

Places 610
Stories 94

Related Places

  • Baltimore, Maryland

    The American Visionary Art Museum

    A museum dedicated to exhibiting remarkable outsider art.

  • A small donation is requested

    Kefalas, Greece

    The House of Stone Creations

    Nestled in the hills of Crete, a local artist has created a wonderland of stone and terracotta sculptures.

  • Kyoto, Japan

    Chaos Room

    A nondescript building is home to a one-room museum filled with an overwhelming array of art and objects.

  • Frontera Sculpture Oasis

    Luna County, New Mexico

    Frontera Sculpture Oasis

    This roadside sculpture garden in New Mexico venerates Mother Earth and outsider art.

  • Grand Coulee, Washington

    Gehrke Windmill Garden

    An eclectic collection of wind-powered sculptures made from found and recycled materials.

  • Hamburg, Pennsylvania

    Bill Rhodes’ People Friendly Garden

    A wonderous place devoted to art and metal.

  • Head of Melpomene.

    Yorkshire, England

    'Relics in The Landscape'

    A unique sculpture park that features the works of several famed artists.

  • Lucama, North Carolina

    Acid Park

    The original location of Vollis Simpson’s Whirligigs.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.