Shire of Roebourne -

KARRATHA
An Aboriginal word meaning Good Country. Karratha is extremely well serviced in terms of community facilities, business infrastructure and community spirit. The town has emerged as the business heart of the Pilbara and is becoming a significant force in the attraction of a thriving tourism industry to the Pilbara. The many attractions within the Shire and access to the Region’s National Parks make it a popular stopping point for tourists.

The town of Karratha was initially
instigated by the continued development
of the Hamersley Iron Project and the
commencement of the nearby Dampier
Salt project. The development of Woodside’s North West Shelf Gas project has seen the town expand further. Today the town has modern shopping facilities and is the administrative centre for the Shire of Roebourne, and the Regional Centre for many businesses and Government Departments.

ROEBOURNE was the first town in the
Shire and originally serviced the pastoral
and mining areas of the whole Pilbara.
However, despite the growth of the new
towns created by the iron-ore industry,
Roebourne has continued to develop to
serve its community needs. There
is a wide range of services available to local industry and the touring public. Industries include earthmoving, mechanical repairs, general retailing and tourist services. The town of Roebourne, being the oldest town in the North West, is steeped in tradition and history. Visitors to the town should not miss the many historical attractions that can be seen in the town.

COSSACK was established in 1863 and played a vital role in the early development of the region as the port for Roebourne and surrounding areas. It was also the beginning and centre of a major pearling industry and at its peak there were up to 120 luggers operating fromCossack. By the turn of the century, the town begain its rapid decline as larger vessels were unable to access the inlet, and eventually the pearling fleet moved to Broome.

The municipality of Cossack was dissolved in 1910, however, people continued to live in Cossack until after World War II. Today Cossack is a town sized museum with ongoing work being conducted by the Shire in conjunction with the Heritage
Council, local volunteers and local businesses. These efforts have resulted in
the town being restored to some resemblence of its former glory. For anyone interested in the heritage of the North West and the history of the pearling industry in WA, a visit to Cossack is a must.

DAMPIER was established as the port
townsite for the Hamersley Iron Ore operations.
It has good shopping, accommodation and sporting activities. Dampier is a scenic town
that faces the 42 islands off the Dampier Archipelago. These beautiful islands and harbour provide excellent recreational activities
such as sailing, boating and fishing. Dampier
has been judged as one of the tidiest coastal
towns in the North and has won the Tidiest
Town Award for 1981, 1982 and 1983 and 1990.

POINT SAMSON is the centre for the
fishing industry in the Pilbara, with most
local boats operating from John’s Creek
with the processing being carried out at
Point Samson itself. Its fine beaches have
made it the main seaside recreation area
of the Shire and its seafood restaurant has become widely known as a visitor’s "must".

WICKHAM the newest town in the Shire, was established to accommodate the workforce for the Robe River Iron Associates facilities at Cape Lambert. A full range of services are available in the town. The town also offers good accommodation, shopping and sporting facilities.