Newman

Newman is a modern mining town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, within the Shire of East Pilbara, about 1,186 km north of Perth. Established in the late 1960s to service the Mount Whaleback iron ore mine, one of the world's largest open-cut mines, it serves as a service hub and gateway for visitors exploring the Pilbara outback, Karijini National Park and surrounding desert landscapes.

Visitors can expect a remote outback mining town set among low ranges and red desert plains. The town centre offers shops, accommodation and the Newman Visitor Centre. Key visitor experiences include viewing the vast Mount Whaleback mine from a lookout, panoramic views from Radio Hill Lookout, Ophthalmia Dam for picnics and birdwatching, and access to four-wheel drive tracks, gorges and Aboriginal rock art sites in the surrounding Pilbara region.

Newman was established in 1968 by the Mount Newman Mining Company (now BHP) to service the development of the Mount Whaleback iron ore deposit discovered in 1957. The town was named after prospector Aubrey Woodward Newman who died in 1896 while exploring the area. Mount Whaleback commenced production in 1969 and became the largest single open-cut iron ore mine in the world, driving the development of the Pilbara mining region.

The Newman area lies on the traditional lands of the Martu and Nyiyaparli peoples. The town and surrounding region retain strong Aboriginal cultural connections, with nearby rock art, waterholes and cultural sites. The Newman Visitor Centre and local art centres showcase Martu culture and contemporary Aboriginal art.