Oakley, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oakley Western Australia
View of the Pinjarra Alumina Refinery in September 2020
Postcode(s)	6208
Area	[convert: needs a number]
Location	88 km (55 mi) from Perth 22 km (14 mi) from Mandurah 4.5 km (3 mi) from Pinjarra 22 km (14 mi) from Dwellingup
LGA(s)	Shire of Murray
State electorate(s)	Murray-Wellington
Federal Division(s)	Canning
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall  ? ? 941.4 mm 37.1 in
Localities around Oakley: Pinjarra Fairbridge Fairbridge Blythewood Oakley Banksiadale Blythewood Meelon Marrinup

Oakley is a small area, or "locality," located in the Peel Region of Western Australia. It's known for being home to one of the world's largest alumina refineries. This quiet area is part of the Shire of Murray, which is like its local council.

Oakley sits at the bottom of the Darling Scarp, which is a long, steep slope or escarpment. Because of the refinery, it's an important industrial spot, but not many people live there.

What is Oakley Like?

Oakley is a "locality," which means it's a specific place or district, but it might not have a big town center or many residents. It's mostly an industrial area with some surrounding natural bushland.

Where is Oakley Located?

Oakley is found in the Peel Region, which is south of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. It's about 88 kilometers (55 miles) south of Perth.

It's also quite close to other towns:

• Only 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) from Pinjarra, a larger town nearby.
• About 22 kilometers (14 miles) from Mandurah, a coastal city.
• Also 22 kilometers (14 miles) from Dwellingup, a popular forest town.

The Alumina Refinery in Oakley

One of the most important features of Oakley is the large Alcoa alumina refinery. Alcoa is a big company that works with aluminum.

What is Alumina?

Alumina is a white, powdery substance that comes from a rock called bauxite. It's the main ingredient used to make aluminum metal, which is used in everything from soda cans to airplanes!

How a Refinery Works

A refinery is like a special factory that takes raw materials, like bauxite rock, and processes them to create a more useful product, like alumina. The Pinjarra Alumina Refinery, located in Oakley, is one of the biggest in the world. It plays a key role in producing alumina for global use.

Local Government and Representation

Oakley is part of the Shire of Murray. A "shire" is a type of local government area in Australia, similar to a county or a rural district. The Shire of Murray helps manage local services and planning for the area.

Who Represents Oakley?

People living in Oakley are represented by different levels of government:

• At the state level (for Western Australia), Oakley is part of the Electoral district of Murray-Wellington.
• At the federal level (for all of Australia), it's part of the Division of Canning. These areas help make sure the voices of the people in Oakley are heard in government decisions.