ESPERANCE What a town!!!! Esperance is a coastal town, with great beaches a great commercial future and lifestyle. Surprisingly the population is only 14/15k. Esperance is also the tourist and beach resort for the Kalgoolie mining area. European history dates back to 1627 when the Dutch vessel Gulden Zeepaert, skippered by François Thijssen, passed through the blue waters off the Esperance coast. French explorers are credited with making the first landfall near the present day town, naming it and other local landmarks whilst sheltering from a storm in this area in 1792. The town itself was named after a French ship, the Espérance In 1802, British navigator Matthew Flinders sailed the Bay of Isles, discovering and naming places such as Lucky Bay and Thistle Cove. The area of the Esperance town site was first settled by the Dempsters, a pioneer family of Scottish descent, in the 1870s. A visit to the Esperance Museum is a must insofar two exhibits make the modest cost worthwhile. The Skylab reentry and the sinking of the Sanko Harvest. Take the time to absorb. Norfolk Pines (very mature) line the streets of Esperance giving great presence and shade. Also notes the age of the town. There is a coastal drive that is also recommended. Have a look at these beaches. The Pink Lake is not as pink as the Port Graham lake but the vista here is nice. The Esperance War Memorial is different with the use of Australian Flag. The active churches are modern. The Hotels likewise are modern. Esperance is a great place that deserves an extended visit. Diary notes