Image from the Black Rock Stakes

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Winning the Black Rock Stakes

Rivalry between the ‘Dampier Salt Shakers’ and the ‘Pilbara Pushers’ was always a highlight of the annual Black Rock Stakes – a quirky annual race held to raise funds for community charities. For nearly 40 years, these teams thrashed it out along the 120 km route from Goldsworthy to Port Hedland, pushing home-designed barrows with 11 kilos of Pilbara iron ore. Held at night to avoid the intense Pilbara heat, teams of up to 12 runners ran non-stop. The race was eventually shut down due to safety concerns. This trophy is a reminder of the strong community spirit of these company-dominated mining towns.

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South Hedland Library - local studies collection

A community space – a space for community

A young girl, cast in bronze, sitting on a wooden bench reading her book, welcomes visitors to the South Hedland library. In the ‘new’ town of South Hedland, the library quietly weaves together the...

Address:

Leake Street
South Hedland WA 6722
Australia

Tel:

(08) 9158 9373

Email:

sthlib@porthedland.wa.gov.au

Open Hours

Local history collection accessible by calling (08) 9158 9373

Return to collection to read more

Town of Port Hedland - South Hedland Public Library Overview

Image of bomb disposal team

In the aftermath of war

Few people are aware that Port Hedland was also bombed by the Japanese during World War 2. There were three raids and a one young serviceman was killed in the first raid on 30 July, 1942. It is...

Celebrating multiculturalism in quilts

Stitching together

In 1990 and in 2000 migrant women of the Pilbara came together to stitch stories of their identities, resilience and diverse cultures into community quilt banners. These colourful quilts, animated...