Copper Hills Mine

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Devons Cut Mine

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Marble Bar South Copper-Gold Mine

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Mount Brockman Mine Group

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Normay Mine

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Ragged Hills East Mine

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Ragged Hills Mine

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Railway Line from Port Hedland to Newman

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Statement of Significance

The railway line from Port Hedland to Newman has historic, scientific and social significance. It also has enormous economic significance for the East Pilbara region. The rail link is a vital component in the mining of iron ore at Mt Whaleback Mine, as it is used to transport the ore to the shipping harbour at Port Hedland, from where it is exported.

Physical Description

The 426 km railway from Newman to Port Hedland is a single track standard gauge railway. The $50 million railway was built to particularly heavy specifications. Laying the line involved 25 bridges, nine miles of culverts, deep cuttings through hard rock, and a search for water to specially treat embankments to make them resistant to erosion. Western Australian hardwood timber was used for sleepers, and there were 870,000 bought for the line. (These have since all been replaced). Alongside the railway track is 425kms of good quality gravel road used for access for maintenance of the track. Warning signs about the train track are well posted for road vehicle drivers' use.

History

The Newman rail project had the huge objective of completing an almost 430 km railway from Newman to Port Hedland through rugged terrain. It took just 21 months of intensive labouring to complete the project, which involved 49 principal contractors and 163 contracts. Construction camps sprang up at Port Hedland and Newman, and at a number of places along the route of the railway. The project employed 1300 workers (both local and men from afield) who set new records for labour intensive track construction. The Thursday Island gang made a name for themselves with their excellent teamwork. In one 12 hour period 7 km of track was laid. This was despite harrowing weather conditions of extremely high temperatures. Trains carrying the iron ore from the mines to Port Hedland are 2.7 kms in length. Altogether they weigh 25,000 tonnes or more. Up to 4 locomotives haul each train and journeys can take as long as 8 hours. The rail line has been through a number of upgrades since its first construction in 1968.

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Rabbit Proof Fence No 1

Child Places

• 12080 Rabbit Proof Fence No 1
• 07144 Rabbit Proof Fence
• 13982 Rabbit Proof Fence No1
• 14216 Rabbit Proof Fence No 1

Values

The place is the longest fence in the world, extending over 1800kms.

The place is significant for its contribution to agriculture at the turn of the century.

The place is rare as a method of pest control, that was to eventually also help prevent the movement of dingoes, foxes and emus.

Physical Description

The Rabbit Proof Fence is the longest fence in the world and cost £250 per kilometre to construct. It was made from Saltwater paperbark posts, wire netting 42 inches wide, with a mesh not less than 1 1/2 inches, and no lighter than 17 gauge, ‘b’ grade with barbed and plain wire. Six inches of the erected wire netting was buried in the ground.

History

Rabbits were introduced to Geelong from England by Thomas Austin in 1859. Towards the end of the last century rabbits were known to have travelled across to Western Australia from Victoria. In 1896, Arthur Gregory Mason reported that rabbits were at least two hundred miles past the South Australian border and inside Western Australia at the town of Eucla. His recommendation to the government was to build a rabbit proof fence. After much debate and a Royal Commission, the government eventually adopted the idea of a barrier fence. In 1901 the Government Surveyor, A.W. Canning was commissioned to survey a fence line to be built to cut off the flow of rabbits entering Western Australia. Canning with only Hubert Trotman, Hassan (an Afghan Camel man) and eight camels completed the preliminary exploratory survey from Burracoppin to Starvation Boat Harbour in July and August that year. They surveyed a route for the fence and its construction began in December the same year. The fence from Starvation Boat Harbour to Burracoppin was built by contract with saltwater paperbark posts on the lower section obtained locally and other materials were shipped into starvation Boat Harbour. The fence was completed in 1906. When the fence was completed, it was the longest fence in the world, stretching from Starvation Boat Harbour, just west of Esperance in the south, to Wallal on the 80 Mile Beach in the northwest, a distance of 1822kms. Even before completion, the rabbits were past the fence and work had begun on Fences No.2 and 3. By 1908 the three fences were complete, over 3,000km of fence line in total. (See map.) Although the construction of the fences was finished, someone was needed to patrol and maintain them. Alex Crawford was appointed the first Chief Inspector of Rabbits and was required to inspect and maintain the fences. The fence was maintained by boundary riders patrolling 240km stretches of fence line with an ingenuous permanent water catchments and huts at regular intervals of 50kms. There were gates at every 32kms and trap yards for foxes and dingoes as well as rabbits every 8 kms. Grids and rabbit proof gates were constructed where the fence crossed the road. Without regular water, the use of horses to carry out the fence inspection was difficult. When camels were used, it was found that inspection of the fence was unsatisfactory from the height of a camel. Many other methods were tried such as bicycles, but this proved unsatisfactory. In 1910, a motor vehicle was purchased to carry out the inspection but was also to prove unsatisfactory. After many punctures and broken springs, it had to be towed slowly back to camp by camels. In the end the only workable solution for the inspection teams were buckboard buggies pulled by pairs of camels. Despite the best efforts to stop the rabbits at the barrier fence, it was to only slow the rabbit's migration. Erosion under the fences, holes in the wire and gates left open allowed rabbits to continue their movement west into the fertile agricultural areas. In their hundreds of thousands, they ate out pasture, ring-barked trees and devoured crops. Much of the fence is still in good repair, especially where it is used by abutting farmers as a boundary fence.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity- Moderate Authenticity- High

Condition

Good - although condition varies along the route

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Muccan Homestead

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Statement of Significance

Muccan is one of the stations established as De Grey's cattle run and is historically important for this association and its link with the Coppin family. The homestead buildings together with outbuildings and graves further afield constitute a group demonstrating a way of life on the Pilbara stations.

Physical Description

The homestead consists of a main block originally built as a L shaped structure, but the lap of the L has since been infilled with a large dining room two one room structures joined to the main block with verandahs and a separate cottage 1 behind. Walls are constructed of cement block and roofs are of corrugated galvanised iron.

History

Assessment 1984 Construction 1880's Muccan, on the De Grey River, like a number of properties along the river, was originally one of the De Grey Station leases and Christopher Coppin , previously police constable at Roebourne, was appointed manager by Messrs. Grant, Anderson & Edgar in the late 70's. The first house, to which he took his family, was little more than a shed. Two of the Coppin daughters died and were buried nearby during the pioneering years and not far from the homestead are the graves of the pearlers, Messrs. Shea and Miller, Killed by aborigines many years before. Later owners were Michael Corbitt and C.E .S. Holthouse. From Muccan Coppin with his sons established his own station, the nearby Yarrie.

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Nimmingarra

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Knossos Geological Site - Stromatolites

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Andover Lead Mine

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Comstock Lode

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Mons Cupri Mine

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Whundo Mine

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Canning Stock Route

Child Places

• 04152 Forrest's Fort (ruin)
• 18750 Windich Spring Proposed Reserve

Values

The place has historical value as it played a significant role in the pastoral industry.

The place has social value as it is used today as a tourism site.

The place has significance as it is a physical reminder of the incredible difficulties encountered in droving stock through bush over long distances in the early 19th Century.

The place has associations with AW canning who surveyed the route.

The place is associated with the need to move stock using a tick free method.

Physical Description

The Canning Stock Route stretched between Wiluna and Halls Creek, a distance of approximately 1850 km. The wells along the route include bores, lined wells, and modified natural water sources. The route is reputed to be the longest stock route in the world. A number of the wells may still be in extant and in their form. A number of wells are known to have been modified.

History

An inland stock route was discussed in the 1890s as a way of transporting cattle inland and reducing possible contamination from tick-borne disease by avoiding in settled areas. A route was surveyed in 1906 by C W Canning and a seven man team, using camels to traverse the desert. After a 14 month survey Canning reported a route would be possible through a chain of 54 stock wells, placed approximately 20 miles apart. Despite a Royal Commission on Canning’s treatment of Aboriginal people during his survey, Canning was selected to lead the well sinking expedition, which commenced in March 1908. By April 1910, 48 wells had been completed over a distance of 1850 kilometres. Despite the initial success, the route fell into disuse. This has been linked to resistance by local Aboriginal groups along the route to the wells and stock drives. In 1928, another Royal Commission saw the repairs and re-opening of the wells in 1929. The last stock drive using the route is reputed to be 1958. In the 1970s, the route became used by tourists. The Aboriginal history of the route has also become more recognised in recent years.

Archaeology

To be confirmed - archaeological potential in a number of well and construction sites.

Integrity/Authenticity

To be confirmed

Condition

To be confirmed

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Child Places

• 04152 Forrest's Fort (ruin)
• 18750 Windich Spring Proposed Reserve

Statement of Significance

The Canning Stock Route has high historic significance for its association with the pastoral industry of the East Kimberley and Surveyor, A.W. Canning.

Physical Description

Runs between Wiluna and Halls Creek, its historical significance of a 2,000km long stock route built in 1908-10, with forty-eight wells and two tanks constructed by over thirty men and led by Alfred W Canning, born and trained in Victoria and settling in Western Australia during his adult working life. The Canning Stock Route passes through three Western Australian deserts, the Little Sandy Desert, Great Sandy Desert and the Gibson Desert. There are 997 sand dunes to cross. It is a wilderness area with a very fragile ecosystem. The Canning Stock Route covers 1,867km. It is unique in that it is untainted by commercialism. The route is rich in Aboriginal heritage, communities live outside the temporary land reserve.

History

An inland stock route was first discussed in the early 1890s due to the cost and difficulty of transporting East Kimberley cattle which suffered from 'red water fever' a disease transmitted by ticks. These cattle had to be shipped south as they were not permitted to be driven through the disease free West Kimberley and Pilbara regions. When a total quarantine was placed on East Kimberley cattle in the early 1900s, prominent pastoralists of the region lobbied Parliament for an inland route, arguing that ticks would not survive the desert journey. Although previous explorers had strongly advised against the idea due to the lack of water and suitable feed, the proposal was supported by the Minister for Mines, H. Gregory, and the Government agreed to send out a survey party. In April 1906 A.W. Canning was appointed Surveyor-in-Charge and the following month a seven man team set off from Day Dawn with two ponies and 23 camels. On completion of the 14 month survey Canning reported to the Department of Lands that it would be possible to establish a stock route with fair feed and good water from 54 wells to be constructed some 20 miles apart. Canning was selected to lead the well-sinking expedition which commenced in April 1908. The stock route was last used by drovers in 1958.

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