Dampier/Karratha

Dampier takes its name from the Dampier Archipelago, named after English explorer William Dampier who visited the area in late 1600s.

Established in 1967 by Hamersley Iron, Dampier is located 16 kilometres from Karratha and 1557 kilometres north of Perth and is home to employees based at our port and rail facilities.

Nestled on the edge of King Bay, Dampier is one of Australia's largest tonnage ports with exports of iron ore, salt, liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and condensate totalling 82 million tonnes per annum.
The town's design reflects construction as a port and processing centre to meet the needs of Hamersley Iron's mining operations. However, by 1968 Dampier had outgrown its original plan and the ever-increasing population overflowed into the new town of Karratha, now the regional centre with a population in excess of 12,500.

Dampier benefits from the typical north-west tropical weather and has ready access to the offshore islands of the Dampier Archipelago. This coupled with a short stay caravan park, barbeque and picnic facilities make Dampier a popular tourist centre.

Dampier has a primary school, day-care centre, doctor's surgery, pharmacist, convenience store, post office, service station, hotel and a selection of eating venues. There are also many active sports clubs and recreation facilities in the town including two ovals, a bowling green, tennis and squash courts and a community hall and a focus on aquatic activities.

Nearby in Karratha there is an Olympic-sized swimming pool, ovals, an indoor basketball court, a golf club, two gyms and a skate park.

Karratha is the regional centre for many State Government agencies. Services include a large shopping complex with a wide range of specialty shops, banks, churches, private businesses, a hospital, two secondary schools, five primary schools, a theatre complex, cinemas and a TAFE college.

The Karratha Airport services both Dampier and Karrratha and it is located off the causeway that links Dampier, formerly an island, with Karratha.

More information about infrastructure and community facilities in Dampier and Karratha can be found at www.roebourne.wa.gov.au.