Pannawonica - North Western Australia Photo Gallery by Simon Blears at pbase.com

Pannawonica - North Western Australia

PANNAWONICA
Latitude : 21 38 S Longitude : 116 19 E

The townsite of Pannawonica is located in the Pilbara region, 1429 km north of Perth and 198 km south south west of Karratha. It was developed as a company mining town for the nearby iron ore deposits by Cliffs Robe River Iron Associates in the early 1970's, and was gazetted a townsite in 1972. The name of the townsite is of Aboriginal origin, derived from nearby Pannawonica Hill, a name first recorded by a surveyor in 1885.

It is claimed that the word 'pannawonica' which the local Aborigines used to describe a nearby hill, actually translates as 'the hill which came from the sea'. The story is that two local Aboriginal tribes were arguing over the ownership of the hill which was located by the sea. The sea spirit decided to resolve the dispute by moving the hill inland. As the hill was dragged over the land it left a deep indentation which became the Robe River.

The road to Pannawonica	Mine Access road	Spinifex Hill #1	Spinifex Hill #2
Tree on Rock	Another Tree on Hill	Rocky Outcrop	Geological Forces
Spinifex with Termite Mound	Are we on Mars?	Termite Mound and Wildflowers	Native Tomato?
Survival	Young Spinifex Plant	Distant Termite Mound	Mature Spinifex Plant
Moonrise over Outcrop	On the Way Home	Fortescue River Bridge	Road Train (2 trailer)
Road Train (3 trailer)	Outback Communications	Tough Bridge	Tough Bridge River
Nearly There!	Karratha Bypass Roadhouse	Avis Car Park	Beer O'Clock!

comment |

murray		30-Apr-2011 08:54
I was there in 1974. I would like to get back one day M.O.Hely, Christchurch, NZ

roy. mcintosh		30-Jul-2010 16:51
What an introduction to Australia I had, left Scotland just after Xmas 1975 and a few days later was at the mining town--the heat--the heat!! Made me think I was in hell--only joking! Spent a fantastic 7 months there before moving on. Shall always remember the lovely sun rises and sun sets etc. Fond memories!!

Murray Hely		04-Jun-2010 09:29
Yep, I was there just after the startup. I want to go back before I retire! murrayhely@yahoo.co.nz

roy mcintosh		07-Mar-2010 19:29
Pannawonica, what a place!? Worked there in 1975. That was the year of the 'Robe River raft race', Dracula worked there that year!? Must have been the only golf course with no grass!? Was hard hot work but plenty of laughs!!??

Guest		19-Jan-2009 09:48
I was one of the first female haulpac drivers there in 1978 - and we girls just had a 30 year reunion in Sept in Brisbane - plan another in 2 years in WA and hope to make a pilgrimage back to Panna - love to see pics of the town it meant alot to us (a few of us had our firstborns there!!)

Guest		17-May-2008 14:49
mmmm mis the red dirt and dust for some strange reason oh and the beer

Peter Berger		14-Feb-2008 15:27
nice pictures, but didn´t find what I was looking for. worked on the construction of a fairly large bridge crossing the Fortesque river in 1971 - 1972 near Pannawonica which in those days didn´t even exist. wonder if this bridge is still standing and if so could I have some pictures of it? mind you it was a single lane railroad bridge app. 400 meters long. kindest regards from Berlin Germany Peter Berger

Guest		06-Jan-2008 09:00
Nice Photos, Hasn't changed much since I was there.

joanne cauilan		11-May-2007 04:27
Hi, I used to live in Panna for a good 7 years and now here in Perth. Thank you for the photos on your website, I miss it. I hope that photo of rocky outcrop isn't Panna Hill, it was a lot bigger when I was last there- 1999. I don't know who Simon Blears but my parents may. thx, I look forward to returning to a hopefully not a ghost town dessert. cheers *joanne cauilan

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