Whim Creek, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whim CreekWestern Australia |
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The iconic Whim Creek Pub, c. 2007
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 Whim Creek
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1872 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6718 | ||||||||
| Area | [convert: needs a number] | ||||||||
| Location | 1,645 km (1,022 mi) from Perth | ||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Karratha | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | North West | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Durack | ||||||||
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Whim Creek is a small town located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It started as a post office called "Whim Well". You can find Whim Creek on the North West Coastal Highway. It is about halfway between the towns of Karratha and Port Hedland.
The town is a long way from Perth, about 1,645 kilometers (1,022 miles) to the north. Many travelers going to Broome use Whim Creek as a place to stop and rest.
Contents
The Famous Whim Creek Hotel
The Whim Creek Hotel is a well-known building in the area. It sits between Roebourne and Port Hedland. For most of the 1900s, it was a popular rest stop and hotel.
Hotel's History and Rebuilding
The very first Whim Creek Hotel had a tin roof. Sadly, a powerful cyclone blew it down in the 1890s. The hotel was rebuilt, but it has been destroyed by cyclones two more times. This happened once in the mid-1900s and again in the 1990s.
The hotel you see today was built in the early 1900s. Its strong steel frame was actually meant for a courthouse in Marble Bar. The building parts arrived by boat at the Balla Balla Creek jetty. They were supposed to be taken inland to Marble Bar. However, a huge cyclone stopped the plans. So, the building was put up at its current spot by Whim Creek. The steel frame has stayed strong ever since. Even so, the wooden outside walls have been blown off twice!
Recent Changes to the Hotel
In 2010, a company called Venturex Resources bought the hotel. It was part of their purchase of the Whim Creek Copper Mine. The hotel then closed in 2011. Later, in 2013, the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation and Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation bought the hotel. They planned to fix it up and open it again.
The hotel closed once more in 2018. This happened when it was officially handed over to the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation.
Whim Creek's Interesting Past
Whim Creek has seen some amazing weather events. On April 2 and 3, 1898, the town received a massive amount of rain. Over two days, about 927 millimeters (36.5 inches) fell. A huge part of that, about 747 millimeters (29.4 inches), fell in just one day! The next year, on March 22 and 23, 1899, another 686 millimeters (27 inches) of rain poured down.
Honoring Local Heroes
There is a small memorial in the car park of Whim Creek. It honors five brothers from the Lockyer family. They were from the local Aboriginal community and served in the war. Two of the brothers sadly died while serving their country. One was killed while serving with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Another was killed while serving in the Australian Army. The other three brothers returned home safely.
A History of Mining in Whim Creek
People first found copper a few kilometers west of Whim Creek in 1872. Later, in 1887, gold was discovered about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the town.
Early Copper Mining
Copper has been mined at Whim Creek for over 120 years, though not continuously. At first, small tunnels called adits and open pits were used by miners to dig for copper. Records show that as early as 1882, small amounts of copper minerals like malachite, azurite, and chrysocolla were being found.
The copper was then shipped from a small port on the coast at a nearby town called Balla Balla. A narrow-gauge railway track ran all the way from Whim Creek to Balla Balla. When mining was at its busiest, Whim Creek had two hotels, a blacksmith, a police station, and even a horse racing track.
Mining in the 1900s
A second period of mining began in the early 1900s. During this time, about 60,000 tonnes of copper concentrate were produced. Most of this came from the Whim Creek Mine. In the 1960s, companies from Japan started exploring the area. They drilled deep into the ground to find more resources. They also built a small operation to mine oxide copper. This operation closed down in the early 1970s.
Over the years, the mining rights for Whim Creek changed hands several times. Eventually, in the mid-1990s, a company called Straits Resources Limited took over the mining area.
Mining Activities Today
The Whim Creek Hotel used to be a place where mine workers lived. About 150 to 180 men and women stayed in small portable units called "dongers." They also shared meals at the hotel. Other mining and exploration teams nearby also used the hotel and its meal services. This was because there were not many other facilities in the area.
The Whim Creek Copper Mine closed in 2018. After the hotel was given to its new owners, the entire site has remained closed.
Images for kids
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Old headframe from the historic underground copper mine at Whim Creek.
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A share certificate from Whim Well Copper Mines Ltd., issued in 1910.
