The Duchess of Coolgardie

The Duchess of Coolgardie is a 1896 British stage play by Cyril Clare and Euston Leigh. It has been called an "important play" because of its overseas success.

The play was first produced at Drury Lane Theatre in London, where it was acted during the entire autumn Season of 1896, under the management of John Coleman. This production was backed by West Australian businessmen. The writers had never visited Australia but it was set in Western Australia.

The West Australian said the play "claimed the close attention of an immense audience, and each tableau was cheered with enthusiasm... a complete success, a success which has been generously endorsed by the leading press critics."

The Age called it " a melodrama of the crudest and most conventional type... sheer drivel from beginning to end, and it speaks very little for the common sense of the West Australian ring that they should have found tho money for so ridiculous a melodrama."

The play was presented in Australia in 1898 and 1899 by Alfred Dampier. The Sunday Times said the play is "seemingly, not one of very great merit from a literary standpoint. It is, however, a piece full of life and color."