Wickham, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WickhamWestern Australia |
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Wickham townsite
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 Wickham
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1970 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6720 | ||||||||
| Area | [convert: needs a number] | ||||||||
| Location | 33 km (21 mi) from Karratha | ||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Karratha | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | North West | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Durack | ||||||||
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Wickham is a town in Western Australia. It is located about 1,572 kilometers (977 miles) north of Perth. The town is also just 13 kilometers (8 miles) north of Roebourne. Wickham is found in the Pilbara region. In 2016, about 2,295 people lived in Wickham. A good number of these residents were Aboriginal people.
A Look Back: Wickham's Story
Wickham was started in 1970. A company called Cliffs Robe River Iron Associates built it. The town got its name from John Clements Wickham. He was the captain of a ship called HMS Beagle. In 1840, he explored the coast nearby.
The first permanent buildings in Wickham were finished in 1970. They were built by the company to help with its iron-ore mine. This mine was located at Pannawonica. The company also had a plant at Cape Lambert that processed iron ore and loaded it onto ships.
Most of the homes and buildings in Wickham are owned by Rio Tinto. Wickham was first a "company town." This means the company owned and ran everything. But from 1980, the town has been managed by both the company and the local government. This local government is called the Shire of Roebourne.
In 2000, Rio Tinto became the main owner of the company that started Wickham. Later, in 2012, Rio Tinto built a new area in Wickham. This new part included 212 new homes. It also had 198 new places for workers who fly in and out for their jobs.
Famous People from Wickham
Some well-known people have lived in Wickham:
- Amber Bradley – a rower
- Don Fergusson – a rower and police officer
- Tanya Oxtoby – a soccer coach and former player
