Information from Department of Local Government and Regional Development
Kimberley Region
Profile
The Kimberley Region of Western Australia is the State's most
northern region. The coastline faces the Indian Ocean to the west
and the Timor Sea to the north. The region encompasses an area
of 421,451 square kilometres (one-sixth of the State's total land
area) and is bordered by the Great Sandy Desert in the south and
the Northern Territory in the east. The geography of the Kimberley
region includes arid desert areas, gorges, sandy beaches, escarpments,
rainforests, waterfalls, vast open plains, river valleys and cave
systems. These spectacular natural features are attracting an
increasing number of tourists to the region.
The region consists of four local government areas, including
the Shires of Broome, Derby-West Kimberley, Halls Creek and Wyndham-East
Kimberley. The major population centres are the towns of Broome,
Kununurra, Derby, Halls Creek, Wyndham and Fitzroy Crossing. There
are also over 100 Aboriginal communities of various population
sizes, scattered throughout the region and nearly 100 properties
servicing the pastoral industry. (Click
here for a map of the Kimberley)
Pilbara Region
Profile The Pilbara region is Western Australia's
second most northern region. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean
to the west and the Northern Territory border to the east, and
encompasses the Great Sandy Desert to the north east. It covers
an area of over 505,000 square kilometres which is approximately
20 per cent of the State's total area.
Most of the inhabitants are located in the
western third, whereas the eastern third is largely desert with
few inhabitants. The region has four local government areas -
the Shires of Ashburton, East Pilbara, Roebourne and the Town
of Port Hedland. The major towns of the region are Port Hedland
and Karratha. Other towns are Roebourne, Dampier, Onslow, Pannawonica,
Paraburdoo, Tom Price, Wickham, Newman, Marble Bar and Nullagine.
The Pilbara came to national and international
prominence during the 1960s when the go-ahead was given to extract
iron ore deposits in the region. Today the Pilbara economy is
crucial to the State, providing two of the State's largest export
revenue earners - iron ore and liquefied natural gas. (Click
here for a map of the Pilbara)
