The great mining boom

Wednesday, July 30:

Tried a couple of free camp spots but full so stayed by a power plant out of Port Hedland. We were joined by a truckie for his sleep break.

Thursday, July 31:

Drove into Port Hedland, parked the van by the docks and walked to the visitor Centre where we booked the BHP warf/port loading facility. It’s all automatic controlled by computers but still employs 2000 people. A fantastic place. We also visited Dalgety House, the home of the Port Hedland Historical Society. Two of their members purchased the two neighbouring historical buildings and the society paid them back. The second property is leased and generates income for the society.  Very interesting to read the history of the area.

One massive ore train comes into Port Hedland while an empty one set off on its 8 hour trip to the mine in the east.

Loaded tanker is guided out of the Port. It takes just 24 hours to load a 300,000 vessel with iron ore - everything is done via computer.

BHP's spaghetti junction. The ore comes in in the size wanted by the client and then stacked and loaded into the ship.

Empty ore trucks head east for more iron ore.

That night we camped at the Yule River – there was plenty of room and a little bit of water but lots of shade. 

An iron ore red sunset - oh what a way to go.