History

Archaeological evidence shows that the Pilbara has been inhabited for at least 30,000 years. More than 30 distinct socio-linguistic groups occupied the region, living off and managing the natural resources according to their law. Aboriginal culture, including its intricate social organisation and strong spiritual relationship with the land, is still strong today.

European ships visited the Pilbara coastline as early as 1618, but visitors like William Dampier were not impressed - reporting an inhospitable coastline with a lack of water. It was not until the 1860's that European settlement of the region began. The explorer Francis Gregory returned to the Swan colony with reports of abundant grazing land in the northwest.  Soon various European settlers, notably Walter Padbury, John Wellard and John and Emma Withnell, began arriving with livestock and supplies to establish sheep stations on the De Gray River. Pastoralism, with the help of free Aboriginal labour, was to dominate the region’s economy for the next 100 years.

To diversify, the early settlers began collecting pearl shell along the coastline. This developed into a thriving industry centered on the port of Cossack. The pearling industry was, however, short lived and relocated to Broome in 1884. By this time the growth of the wool industry and the establishment of other industries such as fishing had firmly established the towns of Roebourne, Cossack, Point Samson, Port Hedland and Onslow. A gold rush inspired by an opportunistic find by John Withnell substantially increased the region’s population and saw the establishment of towns at Marble Bar and Nullagine.

The increase in activity had a dramatic impact on Aboriginal society. Enforced labour, introduced diseases and conflict displaced Aboriginal people from their country and claimed many lives. Between 1946 and 1947 there was a widespread walk off by Aboriginal pastoral workers (still known as the pastoral strike) demanding better pay and conditions and access to their traditional lands. This movement led to the establishment of Aboriginal communities on a number of stations, notably Strelley and later Yandeyarra. It also brought the issue of Aboriginal rights into prominence and resulted in a social movement which used sophisticated methods to fight for this cause.

In the 1960s, 2 dramatic events occurred which were to change the Pilbara forever.

The first, in 1960, was the removal of Commonwealth restrictions on the export of iron ore in response to a growth in world demand, particularly from Japan. The Pilbara had long been known to contain immense deposits, and a boom began which sparked the establishment of 9 new towns in the region by 1970 (Dampier, Tom Price, Paraburdoo, South Hedland, Newman, Wickham, Pannawonica, Goldsworthy (now closed) and Shay Gap (now closed)). Almost overnight the Pilbara’s population increased tenfold.

The second significant event was the introduction of the pastoral award in 1968. Pastoralists could not afford to pay full wages to the station workers and this triggered a massive movement of Aboriginal people from the inland stations to the coastal towns.

In the 1960s and 1970s, discoveries of oil and natural gas off the north west shelf were also made, and in the 70’s and 80’s the development of these resources expanded the region’s economy and population enormously. With major new LNG projects, and the rapidly expanding demand from China for gas and iron ore, the beginning of the new millennium has seen yet another major expansion phase throughout the Pilbara.

Further information and contact details of Pilbara Employment Agencies, Education, Resource Companies,  Real Estate Agents and Government Agencies are available here.