Wickham is a town located 1,572 km north of Perth and 13 km north of Roebourne in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. In 2016 Wickham had a population of 2,295 people. Aboriginal people made up 17.2% of the population, five times the state average.[2]
Wickham Western Australia | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Wickham townsite | |||||||||
![]() ![]() Wickham | |||||||||
![]() | |||||||||
Coordinates | 20°40′30″S 117°08′25″E | ||||||||
Population | 2,022 (SAL 2021)[1] | ||||||||
Established | 1970 | ||||||||
Postcode(s) | 6720 | ||||||||
Location | 33 km (21 mi) from Karratha | ||||||||
LGA(s) | City of Karratha | ||||||||
State electorate(s) | North West | ||||||||
Federal division(s) | Durack | ||||||||
|
Wickham was established in 1970 by Cliffs Robe River Iron Associates (Robe) and named after John Clements Wickham, the captain of HMS Beagle, who surveyed the north-west coast in 1840.[3]
The town's first permanent buildings were completed in 1970 by Robe to support its iron-ore mine at Pannawonica, and pelletising plant and shiploading at Cape Lambert. The majority of the residences and facilities in town are owned by Rio Tinto. Wickham was originally a closed company town but from 1980 has been jointly administered by Robe and the Shire of Roebourne.[4] In August 2000 Rio Tinto acquired a majority interest in the Robe River Iron Associates joint venture and in 2012 established a new Wickham South subdivision that included 212 new dwellings, 25 residential lots, and 198 new FIFO accommodation units.[4]
Towns, communities and localities in the Pilbara region of Western Australia | |
---|---|
|
![]() | This article about a location in Western Australia is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |