Port Hedland is the highest tonnage port located in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia with a population of approximately 15,000. The original inhabitants, the Karriyarras, call the place Marapikurrinya for the hand shaped formation of the tidal creeks coming off the natural harbour. Captain Peter Hedland was one of the first Europeans to explore the harbour for the purpose of developing an export port.
The lifestyle here is relaxed and open. The Town’s oceanic location provides for a variety of aquatic leisure activities including superb fishing. Whales and nesting flatback turtles can be seen in season. Millstream and Karijini National Parks are within easy driving distance, while Broome and the Kimberley are also within reach.
Port Hedland is a natural deep anchorage port which, as well as being the main fuel and container receival point for the region, was seen as perfect for shipment of the iron ore being mined in the ranges located inland from the town. The ore is moved by railway lines from four major iron ore deposits to the east and south of Port Hedland area. Other major resource activities supported include the offshore Natural gas fields, salt, manganese, and livestock. Grazing of cattle and sheep was formerly a major revenue earner for the region but this has declined gradually with time.
Port Hedland was formerly the terminus for the WAGR Marble Bar Railway which serviced the gold mining area of Marble Bar. Goldsworthy Mining developed an iron ore mine approximately 100 kilometres east of Port Hedland in the early 1960s and built the towns of Goldsworthy and later Shay Gap as mine sites. A rail line was then built to Port Hedland where dredging was undertaken to deepen and widen the port’s channel and a wharf was built opposite the township of Port Hedland on Finucane Island. Shipment of ore began on 27 May 1966 when the Harvey S Mudd sailed from Port Hedland to Japan with 24,900 tonnes of ore.
The most common jobs available in Port hedland include the following:
- Trade Assistant
- Dump Truck Operator
- Leading Mining Contractor
- Mechanical Fitter
- Riggers
- Boilermaker
- Construction Supervisor
- C6 Crane Opperators
- Pipefitters
- Surveyors / Surveyor Assistants
- Project Engineer (Civil)
- Mc Driver
- Rail Safety Advisor
- Port Scheduling Superintendent
- Signal Electricians And Technicians
- Machinist
- Earthworks Supervisor
- Landscape Labourers
- Permanent Way Project Engineer
- Civil And Earthworks Engineers
- Signalling Engineer