Latest news and history
Hedlander’s Reunion 2023
In 2022, two former residents of Port Hedland Michelle Finlay and Coni Michelle attended a funeral of a well-known local identity and wondered if there would be enough interest in having another Hedlander’s Reunion. They were right, there was lots of interest. In December 2022, a reunion picnic was held and again this year of [Read more…]
North Pilbara Football Medal Count
It was a privilege to attend the North Pilbara Football Medal Count in Wickham to see who won the Colin Matheson Medal for 2023. The winner was South Hedland Swans Football Club Reserves player Saika Bero. He won by one vote to the runner up Marcus O’Brien. Congratulations.
2022 Hedlanders Past and Present Reunion
HEDLANDERS REUNION Sunday 4 December 2022 at 12pm to 3pm at Riverside Park in Bayswater. BYO everything (Food, chairs, drinks etc). Please note: * this is an unlicensed event, alcohol is at your own choice and responsibility. * there are playgrounds close-by for youngsters. * aim to arrive closer to start time to [Read more…]
I remember by John Rossiter
This is a little something that is part of a life story I am writing. The year was 1969 around June when we arrived in the Pilbara of WA. Just out of Port Hedland there is an oasis of a caravan park; fuel bowsers and a shop, this was known as Dixon’s which is beside [Read more…]
Port Hedland Lock Hospital
The Port Hedland Lock Hospital was built to house Aboriginal people suspected — often wrongly — of having venereal diseases 100 years ago, after an isolated island hospital scheme was shut down. Reference: ABC News, 7 June 2019 Lock Hospital in Port Hedland placed on WA heritage register, important in ‘truth-telling’ Dr Pervan has investigated [Read more…]
SS Koombana 1912
Where is the SS Koombana? The steamship SS Koombana was a steel-screw steamer of some 4,000 tonnes and was operated by the Adelaide Steamship Company on charter to the WA Government as a State Ship. The SS Koombana made her inaugural voyage to Port Hedland arriving on 10 April 1909 and serviced the Port Hedland [Read more…]
Port Hedland Train Station
On the vacant land between Moore Street and Wilson Street there once stood the Port Hedland Railway Station. According to local stories the train took residents and workers from Port Hedland to Marble Bar and back by rail on the Spinifex Express route from 1911. The station closed in 1952. The steam train engine G118 [Read more…]
1960s Port Hedland
Story by Graham Williams As a first year electrical apprentice I was sent to Port Hedland in 1960 to carry out the electrical work on a large group of new State houses being built by George Thompson. I was left by myself to do the work, lived at the Esplanade hotel, and really looked after by a [Read more…]
Event: 120 year birthday party
21 to 23 October 2016 Where: Port Hedland, Western Australia Why: Port Hedland was named after Captain Peter Hedland in October 1896. It is one of the oldest towns in the Pilbara rich in history, mineral exports, diversity of people, Aboriginal culture and rock carvings. This year the town is putting on events to celebrate it’s gazettal and history. [Read more…]
A boom bust town
Although Port Hedland continues to be the engine room of the Western Australian economy, the busiest port in Australia and the biggest minerals exporter, its economy is suffering. House prices have dropped by 50% and rents significantly more than that. The tonnage through the Port Authority is still at record highs, but this has not saved the [Read more…]
Opinion piece: Tourism
North West Telegraph, 11 November 2015 After reading this article in the North West Telegraph on ‘tourism black hole’ and comments on Facebook that Port Hedland has nothing to offer except the port and Dalgety Museum, I thought it warranted my opinion on the subject. In my view it should be compulsory for every Australian to [Read more…]
