Hopetoun, Western Australia

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Hopetoun
Western Australia
Hopetoun is located in Western Australia
Hopetoun
Hopetoun
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Population 1,398 (2011 census)[1]
Established 1900
Postcode(s) 6348
Elevation 13 m (43 ft)
Location
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] the line opened in 1909.[5]

The town became a shipping port for the mining industry, with a jetty built in 1901.[6] 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.[7]

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

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  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
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