Newman  Western Australia

A mining company town in the exciting and unusual Pilbara region of WA, 1184km north-east of Perth, Newman was built for workers at Mt Whaleback - the world’s biggest open-cut iron ore mine - about 15km into the bush. The longest privately owned railway line in the world takes the ore from Newman to Port Hedland, 426km away. In 1981, responsibility for the town was taken over by the Pilbara Shire Council and Newman hasn't looked back since. Styling itself as the gateway to the goldfields of Nullagine and Marble Bar, Newman has a sensational rammed earth gallery where you can buy iron ore jewellery and other artworks and souvenirs and a museum that showcases giant mining equipment. From here you can book a tour of the Mt Whaleback mine and get a close-up look at BHP Iron Ore’s operations. The view from Radio Hill is fabulous, especially at night when the lights of the town and the mine provide a twinkling display in the surrounding blackness. The Hamersley Range National Park, a spectacular place, is 100km or so away to the north-west, off the Great Northern Highway.