Local Government
Port Hedland
Region
Pilbara
5527 Wilson St Port Hedland
Port Hedland
Pilbara
Constructed from 1960
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
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| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 31 Dec 1996 | Category 4 | |
Don Rhodes Mining Museum Park is significant as a commemorative tribute to evolution of the mining industry, and a pioneer of the manganese industry in Don Rhodes. It is a landmark in Port Hedland.
The park is a level grassed area with a considerable collection of Mining machinery and railway locomotives and interpretations and memorials.
Manganese mining was pioneered by Len Ives’ Northern Minerals Syndicate, which he formed in 1947 his son, Bill Grayden, Malcolm Scott, Rod Fletcher and Bert Hawkins. Due to the embargo on iron ore, they turned their attention to manganese mining at Woodie Woodie. Manganese mining began at Woodie Woodie, 300km from Port Hedland, in 1952, with the first export following year. During the 1950s and 1960s manganese mining boosted the economy and population of Port Hedland, which at the time was surviving on pastoralism and small-scale mining. Manganese mining peaked in the 1960s, but by 1972 the quality had decreased and operations ceased. Don Rhodes was employed by Northern Minerals to mine and transport, by truck, the manganese from Woodie Woodie mine to Port Hedland for export. Don Rhodes later took up manganese leases for his company, D.F.D. Rhodes. Initially 15 trucks were used to transport the ore, with roads having to be upgraded to facilitate the traffic. The machinery from all periods of development demonstrate the evolution of the Mining industry in Port Hedland. The recent locomotive additions demonstrate the rail associations during the iron ore period of 1960s-1980s, including original iron ore locomotives used in the Mt Newman mining venture. The museum’s upgrade in 2000 was the largest over the past 15 years, and included the removal of the perimeter fence, redefinition of pathways, tree planting and reticulation, the construction of a gazebo and seating, and the cleaning of machinery. The official opening of the Don Rhodes Mining Museum was in January 2001.
Integrity: High degree Authenticity: High degree Changes to place: Additions to the equipment collection and incremental upgrade to the passive recreational elements of the park.
Good
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Town of Port Hedland Cultural and Heritage trail". | |||
| Plaques on site. | |||
| Town of Port Hedland MI | 1996 | ||
| A Bloeman & T Parker; "Hedland Voices: a visual and oral record celebrating the first hundred years of the Town of Port Hedland 1896-1996". | Town of Port Hedland/Port Hedland Historical Society | 1997 |
Urban Park
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | PARK\RESERVE | Park\Reserve |
| Present Use | PARK\RESERVE | Park\Reserve |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| OCCUPATIONS | Technology & technological change |
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.