UNC Day 21
Visiting Questa Casa Brothel
Yes, I did visit a famous brothel in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the famous mining city in Western Australia. It is called Questa Casa, but often referred to as The Pink House.
It was like this. I set out in 2012 to circumnavigate Australia in my Mitsubishi Lancer, alone. I did have many folk warning me against doing such a “dangerous drive”, but as it turns out I survived and had many adventures along the way.
When I arrived in Kalgoorlie, I had to wait a few days before I could do any mining tours – they were booked out. But I found one tour that wasn’t. The tour of the Pink House Brothel, just around the corner from the motel where I was staying.
I was the only single person on the tour – something that the madam wasn’t comfortable with, but I travelled alone, and really had no choice. Anyway, it was interesting and I was fascinated by the stories. About 10 minutes from the end of the tour, my mobile phone rang. It was my daughter from the other side of Australia. I told her I’d phone her back. She asked where I was. I replied something like “I’m in a brothel in Kalgoorlie.”
Did I apply for a job there? NO!
When I phoned her back about 10 minutes later, she suggested I check Facebook. She’d posted that her mother was in a brothel, and within minutes there was an array of comments – mostly funny about me. Was I applying for a job? And so on.
The Pink House – taken by me in 2013.
In the big mining days, there were several of these “houses” in Kalgoorlie, but only one remains I think.
They made a documentary about it. You can see the trailer tomorrow. (Please be aware there is some very colourful language.)
History in Documentary
I’ve yet to see the documentary, and perhaps will one day. It is an amazing story.
Every now and then someone will ask me about it. But, no, I didn’t work there, and I didn’t see anything exciting but heard the amazing history of the place, and the story of Carmel the Madam, who has been there for over 20 years.
Kalgoorlie is an amazing place – I’ve passed through several times on the Indian Pacific Train. The first time was back in 1958!!!
