Wittenoom Introduction
Wittenoom’s history is inextricably linked to the blue asbestos industry that flourished between the 1930s and 1960s. Nestled near the stunning Hamersley Ranges, the town was established to support mining operations in the nearby Wittenoom Gorge, eventually growing into the largest town in the Pilbara during the 1950s. At its peak, it was a bustling community with a cinema, schools, and a hospital, but the discovery of severe health risks associated with crocidolite dust led to the closure of the mine in 1966.
Today, Wittenoom is a prohibited area, with the Western Australian government having taken extraordinary steps to discourage visitation by removing it from road signs and disconnecting all electricity and water services. The town was formally degazetted in 2007, and the final resident was evicted in late 2022 as part of the Wittenoom Closure Act. The site is considered extremely dangerous due to millions of tonnes of lingering asbestos tailings, making it the largest contaminated site in the Southern Hemisphere.
Despite its toxic legacy, the area surrounding Wittenoom possesses a stark, rugged beauty characteristic of the Australian outback. The iron-rich red cliffs and deep blue pools of the nearby Karijini National Park border this exclusion zone, creating a sharp contrast between natural wonder and industrial tragedy. However, health authorities maintain a strict warning that even a single breath of asbestos fiber can be fatal, ensuring that Wittenoom remains a permanent, uninhabitable memorial to the thousands of workers and residents affected by asbestos-related diseases.
