The Boulder Loopline Railway Museum has celebrated the centenary of the turning of the first sod of the Trans-Australia Railway in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Former Deputy Prime Minister, Tim Fischer AC, said the city should be proud of the significant event.

“This railway connected Western Australia with the rest of the nation when previously the only way to travel to WA was by walking or ship,” Mr Fischer said.

“The WA Goldfields is a core fabric of the nation and their votes were the tipping point in the Federation Referendum.”

Mr Fischer, who was the chairman of Tourism Australia from 2004 to 2007, said the new tourist railway to the Super Pit lookout will be the “icing on the cake” for the town’s historical tourism industry.