A Brief History of Pilbara Mining: From Early Discoveries to Modern Pilbara Mine Sites

Every part of the world has something special about it, but some parts punch well above their weight in significance. The Pilbara, a vast stretch of sparsely populated land in Western Australia some 1,200 kilometres from Perth, is one of those places. Its vast mineral resources make it a global powerhouse for industry of all varieties, while its ultra-long history, unique environment, and cultural diversity make it valuable in many ways.

For decades now, mining in the region has represented the largest expansion of mining in the history of Australia, and it’s not stopping anytime soon. There’s no economy with no people, of course, and the human history of the Pilbara began long ago. Its environment goes back even farther.

The Pilbara is home to some of the oldest rock formations on the planet, dating back more than three billion years. In essence, when you’re in the Pilbara, you’re looking at a part of the Earth’s crust as it was billions of years ago — before even plate tectonics began. For reference, that’s extremely rare to find.

Even rarer was the 2007 discovery of ancient, fossilised sulphur-consuming bacteria dating back around 3.4 billion years, representing some of the earliest known evidence of life ever found on the planet.

The banded iron hematite that the Pilbara is famous for is very old indeed, though its age is debated anywhere between 2.5 billion and 541 million years ago. The red rocks the region is known for are an indication of high levels of iron oxide throughout.

Human life in the region dates back at least 30-40,000 years and probably more, when Aboriginal peoples first populated the region. Cave art in the form of rock etchings (as opposed to paintings) and standing stones at Mujuruga National Park are thousands or tens of thousands of years old, though how old exactly is disputed. The area was an important cultural site for millennia. Regardless, rock art in the Pilbara as a whole represents some of the oldest known Aboriginal art in Australia.

The late 19th century witnessed the discovery of gold in the region by European settlers, which naturally attracted prospectors. Further discovery of many other metals like tin, copper, manganese, and silver attracted yet more to the region. Pearl diving and pastoral farming were the main industries in addition to mining. For decades, the region was so remote and sparsely populated that it remained largely undeveloped until later.

Big industrial news for the Pilbara came in 1957 when prospector Stan Hilditch discovered an enormous iron ore deposit south of the Ophamalia Range, named Mount Whaleback. Further discoveries in the Hamersley Range confirmed that the Pilbara hosts some of the largest iron ore deposits ever found.

Beginning in the mid-1960s, major mining companies like BHP, Rio Tinto, and others began work in the region in earnest. Since then, the growth has been explosive. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been poured into the region, funding the construction of state-of-the-art mining facilities, constantly improving transportation networks, and supporting infrastructure. The region’s deep-water ports, railways, and roads all had to be newly constructed or heavily upgraded to allow for the efficient extraction of the region’s ores to global markets.

The Pilbara’s transformation continues to this day. Towns like Newman, Tom Price, and Karatha were built from the ground up to house the influx of new workers and their families. Meanwhile, other, older communities like Port Hedland and Dampier grew and developed rapidly. These mining towns became and are now hubs of economic activity, providing a huge boost to both the local and national economy while providing a large number of jobs.

A number of major international companies as well regional players have set up in the Pilbara to tap into its vast resources. These companies have played a pivotal role in the region’s development and growth. They’ve invested billions upon billions of dollars into the Pilbara, making it a global hub of iron ore and export. 

One of the most prominent players in the Pilbara mining industry is BHP, a multinational mining and metals company that has been operating in the region for decades. BHP’s enormous network of iron ore mines, rail infrastructure, and port facilities have made it a dominant force in the region. Just as an example, the Mount Whaleback named above is now host to two mines that make up Newman Operations: Newman East and Newman West. The two operations alone combine for 78 million tonnes in iron ore production. 

Another major presence in the region is Rio Tinto, another global mining giant with a massive stake in the region. Rio Tinto similarly operates a wide network of iron ore mines, rail lines, and port facilities. The company is also a major employer in the region, providing jobs for thousands of local residents. For those curious, Rio Tinto operates 17 mines, 3 port terminals, and 2,000 kilometres of rail network in the region. Consequently, the company accounts for a significant portion of the Pilbara’s total ore output. 

Fortescue also has one of the largest presences in the region, with 3 iron ore operations and 760 kilometres of rail lines to match. Fortescue has also invested heavily in solar energy for their mining operations, aiming to deliver 25% of the company’s stationary energy requirements by FY2025. The company has shipped north than 2 billion tonnes of iron ore on its 8 ore carriers since 2008 . 

The eponymously-named and publicly-traded Pilbara Minerals is an up-and-comer as well. Founded in 2005, Pilbara Minerals owns and operates one of the world’s largest independent hard-rock lithium operations at Pilgangoora. Pilbara Minerals epitomises the region’s role as a major supplier of lithium, which will play a substantial role in battery power now and in the future.

Get this: In Fiscal Year 2024 alone, the Pilbara region’s mining sector exported 753.8 million tonnes of commodities. That’s a record, and it’s one that might not stand for long. Of that, a whopping 573.6 million tonnes of that went through Port Hedland. Boosts to port infrastructure will play a large role in expanding export capabilities, as will the continued expansion of mining in the area. 

Things aren’t slated to slow down in the region at all. Pilbara Minerals, for example, is looking to double its lithium production, while copper and zinc mining in the region is expanding as well. Everywhere you look in the Pilbara, mines are being completed, new resources discovered, and innovative strategies put in place to get the most out of the region while limiting environmental damage. 

What this means is simple in concept, yet vast in scale. The Pilbara requires a huge amount of construction in earthworks and civil construction. From mining structures to housing, energy resources, infrastructure, and more, the Pilbara building boom is moving at full tilt. 

Consider the Pilbara’s ports for a reference point: 43% of global iron ore trade passes through the Pilbara’s ports, and 80% of Australia’s national trade. Extrapolate that to see what kind of construction needs to be done to support the labour pool alone and you’ll see what we’re getting at. Houses need running water, running water needs pipes and water treatment plants, and so on. Building any of that means moving a lot of dirt, and that’s just one facet of the complex human environment in the area. 

The takeaway is this: Companies that literally move mountains need sophisticated, knowledgeable support to do so, and that support is quickly finding its way to the Pilbara. 

The Banjima people represent a major success story in the Pilbara for Aboriginal peoples. In 2015, the Banjima — traditional owners of the land on which multiple BHP sites operate — finalised a partnership that will ensure vital income for people who have called the region their home for aeons. 

This agreement will help the Banjima to develop their communities, sustain their culture, and provide improved services for their people. The 2015 BHP deal is one of the biggest positive stories for Aboriginal peoples in recent decades. 

The Banjima, of course, are just one group of many in the Pilbara. Officially, there are more than 31 Aboriginal Pilbara indigenous tribes (or language groups, depending how they define themselves) representing around 14% of the population, and spread over around 150 communities. Increased opportunities and improved living standards for the Pilbara’s Aboriginals are a must, and things are looking up. Companies like Pilbara Minerals are making their relationship with the Nyamal people, traditional owners of the land their Pilgangoora Operation operates on, central to their concept. The operation’s two processing plants, Pilgan and Ngungaju, were named by the Nyamal people. 

Through the ongoing projects we’re winning, we’re also aiming to provide support, jobs, and income for local Aboriginal tribes. 

The Pilbara will continue to grow in population, economic output, and international importance — that much seems written in stone. As global demand for resources like iron continues apace, the Pilbara is well positioned to advance its own cause, that of Australia as a whole, and that of its own people. 

If you want to take a look at what’s in store for local development of the Pilbara, look no further than the Pilbara Development Commission. The holistic vision of the Commission is what one could reasonably call, well, reasonable: Improved infrastructure, improved living standards for all, environmental responsibility, and an expansive economic outlook. They’re optimistic about the region, and so are we, which is why we’re here. 

If you’d like to know more about the Pilbara, what it’s like to do business here, and just how you can go about tapping into the vast riches found in the region, we at KW Civil & Construction are ready to help. We’re experts in earthworks, civil engineering, building and construction, and more. Equipped with the right gear and a multi-disciplined crew that knows how to use it, we ensure our clients get the support they need. Reach out to us to start a discussion — we’d love to hear from you.