DESTINATION: Onslow

Originally settled in 1883 at the mouth of the Ashburton River, the town of Onslow moved to its present location in 1925 as a result of repeated cyclone damage and the subsequent silting of the river. Pearling, gold mining, agriculture and British nuclear testing (on Montebello Islands in the 1950s) dot its history, but today it primarily serves as a base-town for offshore gas and oil exploration.

Main Attractions

TheGoods Shed Museum in Second Ave is a repository for relics from the early days, while the Karinjini Aboriginal Corporation on Third Ave is an outlet for Aboriginal artefacts and artworks. A Town Heritage Trail brochure is available.

Nearby attractions

The ruins of Old Onslow, 48km SW, and its history are described in a pamphlet. Fishing is excellent, particularly in winter, with Beadon Creek Groyne and the mouth of the Ashburton River recommended. About 20km offshore are the 10 Mackerel Islands, a resort attracting anglers to the plentifully stocked waters. Termite mounds can be seen 10km south on Onslow Access Rd.

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Region: Pilbara

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Engulfed by a 2.5 billion year old landscape, the rugged Pilbara is a premier adventure holiday destination. Covering some 500,000 square kilometres of land about 1,300 kilometres north of Perth, the Pilbara contains three world class national parks, including Rudall River and Karijini - regarded as one of Australia’s most stunning natural assets. more

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Second Ave (April-Oct), Ph: (08) 9184 6644

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