KARRATHA townsite was gazetted on August 8, 1969. Born out of iron, salt and gas, the ‘powerhouse of the Pilbara’ 1520km north of Perth is home to some of Australia’s biggest resource development projects. KARRATHA was declared a city in…

FRANCIS Thomas Gregory regarded the Roebourne area as prime pastoral land good enough to also grow cotton on. The townsite on Ngarluma country was gazetted on August 17, 1866. Roebourne residents had already seen a century come and go by…

IN 1863, Swedish-born seaman Lars Peter Hedlund sailed into WA history when he entered unexplored Butcher’s Inlet in ‘Tien Tsin Harbour’ (later renamed Cossack). Explorer and pearler Captain Hedlund (after whom Port Hedland is named) arrived in the 13m cutter…

THE story of Karratha’s development is tied closely to the history of settlement in the North West. From the first tentative steps by maritime explorers such as Dampier, de Witt and Baudin to pioneers such as Gregory, Padbury and Hedlund.…

CLASSIC and vintage car owners converged on Fremantle in February to raise money for the Cancer Council. Sponsored by Fremantle Ports, SCOOP Property and Finance, FreeDB Car Stereo, Portorosa Fremantle and WA Publishers Guild, the Freo StreetWise Charity Car Cruise…

ANGELS, flower-filled fishing boats and a fluorescent mobile cross. On May 13, Fremantle’s Portuguese community celebrates the 50th anniversary year of Our Lady of Fatima in a mass and candlelight procession through the City. The annual event commemorates the appearance…

THE Fallen Sailors and Soldiers Memorial foundation stone was laid on Anzac Day 1928. The completed monument was unveiled on Armistice Day the same year. Formerly ‘Obelisk Hill’, the site overlooking Fremantle harbour was vested as a park on July…