Perth Mint: Gold Pour Tour & Heritage Stories in East Perth

Summary

Gold history, molten pours and rare nuggets at Perth Mint

You’ll step into history at Perth Mint with a local guide who brings old stories to life, watch molten gold transform before your eyes, handle real bullion (yes, seriously), and wander among rare nuggets and coins. It’s part museum, part live show — and leaves you thinking about value in ways you didn’t expect.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the doors at The Perth Mint to feel so heavy — or maybe it was just my nerves. We’d just walked over from our hotel in East Perth (the CAT bus is free but it was sunny enough to stroll), and the building really does look like it’s been watching over Hay Street for more than a century. Our guide, Mark, had this way of pausing before each story, as if he was letting us peek behind the vault door for a second. He pointed out the original Melting House and I swear you could still smell something metallic in the air, kind of sharp but not unpleasant.

The gold exhibition itself felt darker than I expected — not gloomy, just sort of hushed. There were families and a few older couples wandering around with brochures in all sorts of languages (I tried to read a bit of French but gave up fast). Mark showed us the one-tonne gold coin first. It’s ridiculous in size. People actually gasped when he told us how much it’s worth; someone joked about rolling it home but honestly, you’d need a forklift. Then there were these raw gold nuggets on display — some looked like they’d just been dug out yesterday.

The real highlight was watching molten gold get poured into a bar right in front of us. You could feel this wave of heat even from behind the glass. It glowed almost white at first before settling into that deep yellow everyone imagines when they think “gold.” Mark asked if anyone wanted to guess their weight in gold — I did the math later and… let’s just say I’m worth more as myself than as bullion. There’s something weirdly grounding about holding that much value in your hands, even if it’s only for a moment. I still think about that feeling sometimes when I see my plain old wedding ring.

We left through those same heavy doors, blinking into the light again. The city noise felt louder after all that hush inside. If you’re curious about Western Australia’s golden past or just want to see what real wealth looks like up close (and maybe laugh at your own terrible math), this day trip to Perth Mint from central Perth is worth an hour or two. And yeah — you’ll probably find yourself checking your pockets on the way out, just in case.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore The Perth Mint gold history

• Join hourly guided talks
• Visit grand heritage building
• See original Melting House
• Learn about Western Australia's gold past
• Marvel at largest gold coin
• View natural gold nuggets display
• Watch molten gold poured
• Handle gold bullion worth $700,000+

Top questions

How do I get to The Perth Mint from central Perth?

The Mint is at 310 Hay Street in East Perth, a short walk from downtown or accessible via the free Red CAT bus (stop R06).

Is The Perth Mint wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas are wheelchair accessible and there’s a universal access restroom; wheelchairs can be borrowed if needed.

Are guided tours included with entry?

Yes, hourly guided talks are included with your visit.

Can children visit The Perth Mint?

Yes, infants and small children can use prams or strollers during the tour.

What will I see on the tour?

You’ll see gold exhibitions, natural nuggets, watch molten gold poured into bars, and view historic artefacts.

Are exhibition guides available in other languages?

Yes, brochures are available in 8 languages including Chinese, French, Japanese and more.

Is public transport nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available close to The Perth Mint.

What’s included

Your visit includes an hourly guided tour led by an expert who shares stories inside heritage buildings and vaults; you’ll watch a live gold pour demonstration; see rare nuggets and coins; handle real bullion; plus enjoy easy access via walking or free city bus from central hotels.