Story: Marble Bar #1
Episode: Episode 5
Presenter: Emma George
Air Date: 31st July 2022

The hottest town in Australia, it was given this title after recording a heatwave of 160 days over 37.7 degrees in 1923 and 1924. It is still listed in the Guinness Book of records. In 2018 it set the hottest Christmas Day on record when it reached 48 degrees.

• The town was formed in 1893, following the discovery of gold in the area. The name Marble Bar was derived from the nearby Jasper bar in the Coongan River, mistaken for marble.
• During World War 2, US and Australian Airforce Heavy Bombers were based at Corunna Downs Airfield, where missions included attacking Japanese targets as far away as Borneo.
• Marble Bar is nestled in a stunning and rugged landscape. Surrounded by natural pools, spectacular rock formations and panoramic views, the area has some of the oldest Archean Rocks in the world.
• The Jasper deposit located at Marble Bar pool sits in an A Class Reserve and the removal of anything from the area is prohibited. There is a jasper deposit located about 4km down the road where fossicking is allowed.
• The information displays at Comet Gold Mine (founded in 1936) tell the region's mining heritage. The 75m high smokestacks are the tallest in the southern hemisphere.

For more information, please visit:
https://western4wdriver.com.au/