Hopetoun, Western Australia

Hopetoun
Western Australia
Hopetoun
Coordinates 33°57′S 120°53′E / 33.95°S 120.89°ECoordinates: 33°57′S 120°53′E / 33.95°S 120.89°E
Population 1,398 (2011 census)[1]
Established 1900
Postcode(s) 6348
Elevation 13 m (43 ft)
Location
  • 591 km (367 mi) south east of Perth
  • 160 km (99 mi) west of Esperance
  • 41 km (25 mi) south of Ravensthorpe
LGA(s) Shire of Ravensthorpe
State electorate(s) Eyre
Federal Division(s) O'Connor

Hopetoun is a town on the south coast of Western Australia in the Shire of Ravensthorpe. Located on Mary Ann Haven, Hopetoun is some 590 kilometres (370 mi) south-east from capital city Perth and 160 kilometres (99 mi) west of Esperance.

History

Hopetoun was established in 1900 as a coastal town servicing the Phillips River Mining District, and named after the 7th Earl of Hopetoun and first Governor General of Australia, John Hope.[2] The townsite was gazetted on 9 February 1901.[3]

It was a terminus of one of Western Australian Government Railways' isolated branch lines between Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe,[2][4] and became a shipping port for the mining industry, with a jetty built in 1901.[5] The railway closed in 1925 and the port closed in 1936, with the jetty remaining until its destruction in 1983.

Some of the town's electricity is generated by a wind-diesel system. Hopetoun has two 600 kilowatt wind turbines and two low-load diesel generators.[6]

FQM Australia Nickel bought RNO in February 2010 from BHP Billiton. Nickel was first produced in October 2011 during commissioning, and first exports were shipped on 25 November 2011. Commercial production was achieved on 28 December 2011 and the plant continues to perform consistently at design throughput. RNO directly employs over 450 people and has a commitment to residential living for key staff in the Hopetoun–Ravensthorpe region.

There is a primary school, police station,and a local doctor based in the town who has a clinic in both Hopetoun & the nearby town of Ravensthorpe. Hopetoun also has a local Pub, Bakery, IGA Supermarket, 2 Cafes, a Gift/Souvenir shop, 2 Hairdressers, 2 Beauty Salons & a Hardware store. The current population at last count from 2011 Census was 1,398.

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Hopetoun (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names". Retrieved 17 January 2007.
  3. ↑ Western Australian Government Gazette, file 9159/00, 9 February 1901, p.676.
  4. ↑ The Hopetoun - Ravensthorpe Railway Nugent, P.W. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, November 1966, pp249–262
  5. ↑ "Hopetoun". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  6. ↑ "Blowing a gale". Intersector. 19 September 2006. Archived from the original on 8 September 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2008.