Koolyanobbing, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Koolyanobbing Western Australia
Koolyanobbing Location in Western Australia
Established	1965
Postcode(s)	6427
Elevation	343 m (1,125 ft)
Area	[convert: needs a number]
Location	424 km (263 mi) east of Perth 54 km (34 mi) north north east of Southern Cross
LGA(s)	Shire of Yilgarn
State electorate(s)	Central Wheatbelt
Federal Division(s)	O'Connor

Koolyanobbing is a small place in Western Australia. It is about 54 kilometers (34 miles) north-northeast of Southern Cross. This area is known for its iron ore mining. Iron ore is a rock used to make steel. Mining has happened here since 1948, with some breaks. Recently, a company called Mineral Resources dug up the ore. They sent it by train to Esperance port. From there, it was shipped to other countries.

History of Koolyanobbing: From Rocks to Mining

The Name and Early Explorers

The name Koolyanobbing comes from the local Aboriginal language. It means "place of large rocks." This name was given by the Kaprun people.

The first European to visit this area was Charles Cooke Hunt. He explored the Koolyanobbing mountain range in 1864.

Later, in 1887 and 1891, a gold hunter named Henry Dowd visited. He thought the rocks here were not valuable. He wrote down his findings and buried them in a bottle. This bottle was found in 1963 at a place now called Dowd Hill.

Mining Begins and the Town is Built

Iron ore mining started in Koolyanobbing in 1948. The ore was first sent by truck to Southern Cross. From there, it went by train to Wundowie. At Wundowie, there was a special furnace that used the ore.

The town of Koolyanobbing was officially created in 1965. It was built to support a new iron ore mine at Dowd Hill. At the same time, the railway line was changed. This made it easier to transport the ore from the mine. The new town had many facilities. These included a bowling green, a general store, a golf club, a swimming pool, and a town hall.

Mining Companies and Changes Over Time

From 1967 to 1983, a company called Dampier Mining Co Ltd mined iron ore here. This company was part of BHP. The town's population grew to almost 500 people in the early 1980s. The ore was sent by train to Kwinana, near Perth. It was used by another company, Australian Iron & Steel, to make steel.

In 1982, the steel furnace in Kwinana closed. This caused iron ore mining at Koolyanobbing to stop until 1993. Mining started again in 1993 with Portman Mining. This time, the ore was sent to Esperance for export. In 2008, another company, Cliffs Natural Resources, took over the mining.

In 2018, Mineral Resources bought the mining operation. There was a short break in mining. The new owners took control in November 2018. The government helped them by not charging some fees. This helped save many jobs.

However, in 2024, Mineral Resources announced that mining would stop. They said it was no longer profitable. Mining finished in early December 2024. The last train of iron ore left for Esperance at the end of the year.

Other Industries and Nature

WA Salt Supply produces salt at Lake Deborah. This lake is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Koolyanobbing. The salt is sent by train from Koolyanobbing to Kwinana.

The Koolyanobbing Range is home to many special plants. Some of these plants are found only in this area.

Train Services at Koolyanobbing

The Prospector train service stops at Koolyanobbing. This train runs between East Perth and Kalgoorlie. It usually runs once or twice each day.

Preceding station	Transwa			Following station
Southern Cross towards East Perth		Prospector		Bonnie Vale towards Kalgoorlie