South Hedland, Western Australia

South Hedland was built due to a shortage of land in neighbouring Port Hedland above cyclonic storm surge levels adjacent to the original town site. Wilson Street, the main road into Port Hedland, can still be cut off by floods when heavy rain coincides with storm surge. The planners aimed to design a town where it would be easier to walk than drive, and which had the potential to grow to 40,000 residents. Unfortunately the heat experienced in the town during summer meant few wanted to walk, and driving was difficult as the majority of the pro-walking planning involved creating dead-end streets. Over the last twenty years the town of Port Hedland council has worked to overcome this problem by joining streets and opening up access as well as selling off the laneways in an effort to reduce crime. The bulk of South Hedland's residents work at the port or in the iron ore processing industry.

[edit] Cells

Town Centre, ultimately to be bounded by Forrest Circle, contains the shopping centre, aquatic centre, health centre, post office and government agency offices. To the north is Hedland College of TAFE and Sports Complex.
Lawson contains a community centre, Hedland Senior High School (1971), South Hedland primary school (1972) and sports facilities.
Cassia contains two daycare centres, and Cassia primary school (1981). Many of the street names are botanical in origin.
Shellborough contains Baler Primary School (1975) and an Islamic mosque.
Walnut Grove contains sports facilities and a Police and Citizens' Youth Club.
Koombana is the newest and southern most suburb which was not built to the same specifications as the earlier parts of South Hedland and from the air does not display the cell structure that can be seen in the others.