PDF version of the Pilbara electorate map
PDF version of the Mining and Pastoral Region electorate map
Area (sq km): 292,570
Number of Electors: 23,272
Source:
2019 Final Distribution Report, Western Australian Electoral Distribution Commission.Origin of the Name:
Pilbara - Name derived from Pilbara Creek, a name first recorded in 1888. Sometimes refered to as being an Aboriginal name for the mullet (fish), but the source of this information is not known, and another more likely meaning in the Kariyarra language is ‘dry-dried out’ (source; Manny Lockyer of South Hedland and Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre).
Pilbara Creek, and sometimes Pilburra Creek is referred to a number of times in the “West Australian” 1/1/1888 to 16/8/1888, and the “Pilbara Goldfield” was proclaimed in the Government Gazette 1/10/1888. Beasley’s survey was in October 1888. There was no official change from the Pibarra spelling to the Pilbara spelling, it gradually coming in between 1905 and 1910. However, the reason for the change of spelling appears almost certainly to have been the adoption of “Rules for the Spelling of Native Geographical Names” by the Department of Lands and Surveys. The Department widely circulated a booklet on these rules in 1901. The rules were produced by the Royal Geographical Society in England, and adopted by the Foreign & Colonial Office, Admiralty etc. The double “R” spelling would have meant a pronunciation like Pinjarra, that is, the vowel is lengthened, whereas the single “R” shortened the vowel. It is presumed the current spelling identifies the correct pronunciation.
Source: Western Australia. Department of Land Administration. Names and Places.
Suburbs and Towns within the Electorate:
Balla Balla; Baynton; Boodarie; Bulgarra; Burrup; Cooya Pooya; Cossack; Dampier; De Grey; Gap Ridge; Indee; Jigalong; Karratha; Karratha Industrial Est; Maitland; Marble Bar; Mardie; Millars Well; Newman; Nickol; Nullagine; Pardoo; Pegs Creek; Pippingarra; Point Samson; Port Hedland; Redbank; Roebourne; Sherlock; South Hedland; Stove Hill; Strelley; Telfer; Wallareenya; Wedgefield; Whim Creek; Wickham
* = Suburb/Town split between more than one Electorate.
Source: Western Australian Electoral Commission.