The Shire of Ashburton occupies an area of 105,647 sq km which is nearly half the size of Victoria, yet only has an estimated population of 6000 residents. The shire is named after the Ashburton River which runs from the coast to the shire's Southern boundary.
The main industries are iron ore mining, salt production, pastoralism and tourism. The Shire has three inland towns; Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Pannawonica. These towns are mainly associated with the iron ore industry. Onslow is a coastal town renowned for its salt production and fishing. From Onslow, boating, diving and fishing enthusiasts can access the Mackerel and Montebello Islands.
Ashburton(S) is home to the Karijini National Park, the second largest National Park in W.A. Karijini is famous for its deep and rugged gorges. A visitor centre with interpretative displays was established in 2001, representing the natural and cultural history of the area. The recently opened Karijini Eco Retreat provides comfortable tented accommodation to enhance the visitor experience of the region.
Another popular tourist destination in Ashburton(S) is the 200,000 hectare Millstream-Chichester National Park. The park features rolling hills, spectacular escarpments, winding watercourses and deep pools at Crossing Pool and Deep Reach.
Workers in Ashburton(S) have the highest median weekly income of all the local government areas in the Pilbara,at $2142 per week. Of all regions in Western Australia, the Pilbara has the highest percentage of households with a gross weekly income over $2500. This is partially due to the high median income in Ashburton(S).
The mining workforce in Ashburton(S) has risen sharply from 2001 to 2006 due to the increased demand for commodities, particularly iron ore. Greater demand for workers has been generated by increased mining activity, including the opening of Rio Tinto's Eastern Range mine in 2004, located near Paraburdoo.
There was a sharp increase in residential building approvals in Ashburton(S) from 2004/05 to 2005/06. The additional demand for housing was also linked to the expansion in mining activity, particularly around Tom Price & Paraburdoo.
