Karratha Pilbara Western Australia
What could be the attractions of working in Karratha, an isolated Indian Ocean city in a northern desert region of Western Australia?
History and Geography of Karratha, Pilbara
Climate
Karratha has a hot semi-arid climate with warm to hot all year round temperatures and low rainfall, most of which falls in late summer due to the influence of tropical cyclones and the monsoon. Winter temperatures rarely drop below 10 °C, while maximums stay in the mid to high 20 °C's and days are sunny with low humidity. Summers are very hot and usually dry although the erratic influence of the monsoon can cause periods of high humidity and thunderstorms.
Population
In 2020, the population was 23,118 and this is expected to grow as the industrial and mining labour force expands. According to the 2016 census
- 65.7% of people in Karratha were born in Australia.
- The next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 5.3%, Philippines 3.0%, UK 2.9%, South Africa 1.5% and India 1.3%
- 76.2% of people in Karratha spoke only English at home.
- Other languages spoken at home included Tagalog 1.7%, Filipino 1.1%, Afrikaans 0.8% and Mandarin 0.7%.
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Facilities
- Education is provided through four public primary schools, one independent public school and one private primary school, one public and one private high school (Karratha Senior High School and St Luke's College), a TAFE centre with remote university facilities.
- A new state of the art library was opened in 2018, Karratha Public Library.
- A new hospital was opened in 2018, Karratha Health Campus.
- Red Earth Arts Precinct opened in 2018. This venue has a theatre that can also operate as an indoor cinema, outdoor cinema, rehearsal rooms and art spaces.
- Karratha Airport has two passenger airlines servicing the city with regular schedules: Qantas and Virgin Australia. The airport also serves as the hub of the Pilbara's light-aircraft and helicopter services, enabling contractors to access offshore destinations and other parts of the region. Cape Preston Aerodrome [YCPR] is about 70 km south of town.
Annual festivals and events
- Each year in August Pilbara Iron, Dampier Salt, Woodside Petroleum Limited, and other smaller companies sponsor one of the largest festivals in the North West, over two days. The name FeNaClNG Festival is derived from Fe (iron), NaCl (salt) and NG (natural gas).
- Red Earth Arts Festival.
- Cossack Art Awards.
Sports
- The North Pilbara Football League (NPFL) is an Australian rules football league with seven teams: Karratha Kats, Karratha Falcons, Dampier Sharks, Roebourne Magpies, Wickham Wolves, Port Hedland Rovers and South Hedland Swans.
- The Pilbara Rugby League has 6 teams: Karratha Stormers, Karratha Broncos, Karratha Roosters, Port Hedland Juniors, South Hedland Cougars and Wickham Wasps.
- Soccer has 5 teams: Bulgarra Glory, Karratha Snow Whites, Nickol, Dampier Red Dogs and Salt.
- West Pilbara Cricket Association has 6 teams: Karratha Kats, Baynton Lions, Rec Club, Dampier Taverners, Wickham Wallabies and Pegs Creek Crabs.
Things to do
Twice the size of the United Kingdom, the Pilbara region in Western Australia has some of the world’s most stunning ancient natural landscapes, dating back 3.5 -4.3 billion years. With over 700 historic Indigenous archaeological sites and 1,000,000 rock engravings (Petroglyphs), many dating back some 30,000 years, the Burrup Peninsula is the perfect place to discover the unique art, history and culture of the Aboriginal people of the Pilbara.
Deep rocky canyons lead to peaceful plunge pools in the beautiful Karijini National Park. Hundreds of islands with dazzling white beaches and untouched coral gardens are yours to explore on the Dampier Archipelago and Mackerel Islands. And yet the Pilbara is also known as the engine room of Australia - home to a massive mining industry in crude oil, salt, natural gas and iron ore. An incredible juxtaposition of two very different industries.
Explore the Pilbara's colonial past in Roebourne, the oldest settlement in the North West. Cossack is a ghost town and has many beautifully restored historical buildings which offer an insight to the hardships and successes of the first settlers. There is also a perfectly positioned lookout here overlooking Jarman Island’s lighthouse built in 1888, the long white sand and sparkling blue ocean that is Settlers Beach.
Travel inland and you’ll experience the unique communities of the rugged outback, from Tom Price, the highest town above sea level in Western Australia, to Marble Bar, the hottest town in the country.
Natural parks and nature reserves
Karijini National Park in Australia’s North West is all about adventure.It’s about exploring ancient rocky tunnels and plunging gorges, paddling through crystal-clear waterways and swimming under stunning waterfalls. And the best bit? Its most amazing scenery is all within easy reach. As you stand amongst the ancient geological formations of Karijini National Park, you feel awestruck at the red layered cliffs that line the spectacular gorges eroded by nature over billions of years. The Pilbara’s gum trees, termite mounds and expansive plains give way to picturesque gorges, refreshing waterfalls and the emerald waterholes of Karijini National Park. A soothing oasis of trees and ferns provide shady refuge as you explore the wonders of this Western Australian national park.
A few more include:
- Barlee Range Nature Reserve
- Millstream Chichester Natural Park
- Cane River Conservation Park
Hiking and biking
The Pilbara regions and neighbouring Kimberley regions of Western Australia combine to form a million square kilometres of extraordinary grandeur, colour and contrast.
Stretching from Onslow in the south to Kununurra in the north east, the Northwest is rich in pioneer and Indigenous history and breathtaking scenery of ancient rugged ranges, spectacular waterfalls and pristine coastlines. Home to incomparable natural attractions and blessed with a year round balmy climate and a variety of flora and fauna that simply can’t be found anywhere else.
Offering outback expeditions, bush walks, hikimg and biking trips, luxury cruising, four wheel drive safaris and cultural encounters to just lazing on a pristine beach-
Swimming, Diving, Sailing and Fishing
The Pilbara coast offers world-class boating, fishing, diving and snorkelling. Should you visit in turtle nesting season, between September and April, watch out for female turtles laying their eggs and newly hatched babies scrambling to the ocean. Pristine beaches, beautiful coral gardens and abundant fish beckon you to Point Samson. There is another event on Mother Nature’s calendar that you can experience year-round - the incredible Staircase to the Moon occurs on full moon dates between March and October along the Pilbara coast.
The 40 mile beach, Gnoorea Point, offers nature based camping with great fishing from the beach. For off-shore fishing, there is also a natural boat ramp. This is just 56 km south of Karratha
Karratha Health Campus

Opened in 2018, the health campus has been built in the town’s centre and replaces the old Nickol Bay Hospital, now permanently closed. It has world class healthcare facilities bringing together many services under one roof and providing valuable support to smaller regional hospitals including Roebourne, Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Onslow.
In addition to outstanding emergency and hospital care, the new Karratha Health Campus provides a comprehensive 'one-stop shop' for the delivery of integrated health services including physiotherapy, speech therapy, counselling, community health nursing and community mental health
Upgrades include:
- A new 40-bed facility with significantly expanded emergency department.
- New CT scanner, surgical ward, maternity wing and delivery suites.
- Expanded facilities for outpatients and essential services such as child health and medical imaging, brought together in a single health care hub.
- World-class telehealth services
- Helipad
Job Opportunities
The campus offers excellent employment and career opportunities for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals with good salaries, paid vacation, pension benefits and tremendous opportunities for study, research, and learning new skills.
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