Karratha - Culture and History

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This was published 15 years ago

Karratha - Culture and History


The Karratha area was first settled as a result of F. W. Gregory's glowing reports about the pastoral potential of the Pilbara. In 1866 Dr Baynton and Harry Whittal-Venn established Karratha Station. The name 'Karratha' supposedly meant 'good country' in the language of the local Aborigines. The station continued to operate under Baynton and Whittal-Venn until 1879.

The modern, rather soulless town of Karratha, was planned and constructed in 1968-9 as a joint State government - Hamersley Iron project to meet the expanding accommodation needs of the mining company.

The township of Dampier, which was serving the needs Hamersley Iron and housing the people employed at the port facilities, was restricted in its ability to grow and consequently Karratha was developed on Nickol Bay. By 1973 Dampier had reached its growth capacity.

As it grew the other major mining company, Robe River Iron Associates, invested money in the town. Today it is home to over 7000 people and, as the population continues to increase, the town has taken on a life of its own and the number of service industries continues to grow. It is the only town in the north west to have a major industrial estate servicing the needs of the community. It is planned that the town will eventually house over 30 000 people. Inevitably the administrative functions of the Pilbara have all been moved to the town.

It has simply outgrown its 'company town' status and now is the largest and most important centre in the Pilbara.

It is an 'open town' providing a variety of accommodation (albeit very over-priced) for visitors and purporting to have some attractions which go beyond the mining industry.

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