Pilbara

Located in the North West of Western Australia, the Pilbara is a vast and dynamic region, rich in natural beauty and mineral resources. The region covers over 500,000 square kilometres extending from the Indian Ocean to the Northern Territory border. There are three distinct geographical formations, a vast coastal plain, breath-taking inland ranges and an arid desert region extending into Australias dry centre.

Thought to be around 2.8 billion years old, the Pilbara contains some of the earths oldest rock formations and most important mineral deposits (The Pilbara Development Commission).

State:

Western Australia

Average summer day temperature:

36.3°C

Average winter day temperature:

27.0°C

Average annual rainfall:

313.0mm

Average clear days:

387.1

Dampier

Average summer day temperature: 35.9°C

Average winter day temperature: 26.1°C

Average annual rainfall: 261.1mm

Average clear days: 156.3

Average daily sunshine hours: 10.2

Dampier was established as an iron ore port in 1965 to handle the ore being transported by train from Mt Tom Price 294km away. Operated by Hamisley Iron, it has all the facilities of a modern town and more.

The town was named after the exlorer and navigator Willaim Dampier. In 1688, Dampier brought his ship the Cygnet to what is now the port of Dampier, to undergo repairs. While the ship was being overhauled, Dampier made observations of the indigeneous people, and the landscape. He later described the area as barren, and its people the most primitave in the world.

Goldsworthy

Average summer day temperature: 39.6°C

Average winter day temperature: 28.0°C

Average annual rainfall: 324.4mm

Average clear days: 192.5

Goldsworthy is located 2050km north of Perth.

Hamersley Range

Newman

Average summer day temperature: 38.8°C

Average winter day temperature: 22.2°C

Average annual rainfall: 307.4mm

Average clear days: 180.7

Newman is located 1,184 kms north of Perth along the Great Northern highway in the "Heart Of The Pilbara", and lies on the Tropic of Capricorn. With a population of approximately 5200 people, Newman is the largest town in the East Pilbara and is the headquarters for the Shire Administration.

Paraburdoo

Average summer day temperature: 40.8°C

Average winter day temperature: 24.3°C

Average annual rainfall: 280.8mm

Average clear days: 186.8

Average daily sunshine hours: 9.4

Paraburdoo is located next to the beautiful Karijini National Park. The two main centres of Tom Price and Paraburdoo, both iron ore mining towns, lie 300 km south of Dampier. The huge iron ore deposit now known as Mt. Tom Price was discovered in 1962, after which Hammersley Iron was formed.

Port Hedland

Average summer day temperature: 34.7°C

Average winter day temperature: 26.3°C

Average annual rainfall: 327.1mm

Port Hedland was first developed as a shipping port for agriculture in the late 19th century, but when gold was discovered at Marble Bar at the beginning of the 20th century, the port expanded. When the gold resources became depleted, so to did the population of Port Hedland. During the 1960s rich iron or deposits were discovered in the Pilbura region and the Port took on a major role in the area again.