The Town of Port Hedland (Port Hedland(T)) is located on the East Pilbara coast 1763km from Perth via the North West Coastal Highway or 1660km from Perth via the Great Northern Highway, occupying an area of 11,844 square kilometers.
The two main residential centres of the region are Port Hedland and South Hedland, with the remaining population living on pastoral stations or in Indigenous communities such as Yandeyarra. Port Hedland(T) boast a range of community services, including cultural, educational, medical, recreation and shopping facilities. The Wedgefield Industrial Area contains a variety of light and service industry premises.
The main industries are iron ore processing and export, salt production from extensive evaporation ponds for export, shipping of manganese and other minerals and livestock production (mainly cattle). The Port is already one of the world's largest in tonnage terms, with over 100 million tonne of product worth more than $3 billion shipped each year and major expansions anticipated in the near future including a new $155m multi user Panamax berth at Utah Point.
Port Hedland is renowned for its Indigenous culture and history, long trains, big ships, salt piles and red dust. Often referred to as the friendliest town in the Pilbara, the local people make Port Hedland what it is today.
The unemployment rate in Port Hedland(T) decreased from 1996 to 2006 due to the continued mining activity and related industries with attractive remuneration for the long hours. Public sector and small to medium enterprises continue to struggle to find long term employees, with the majority of these places filled by partners of workers in the higher paying industries and travellers during the tourist season.
Recreational boat ownership is very popular in Port Hedland(T) area due to the excellent fishing and conducive climate, with 78 boats per 1000 people. The number of larger vessels has not increased significantly possibly due to limited recreational boat harbour facilities and the risk of cyclonic damage to vessels moored.
The public housing stock in Port Hedland(T) has dropped from 787 dwellings in 2000-01 to a low of 719 dwellings in 2008-09. With the price of rental accommodation in Port Hedland(T) exponentially high compared to metropolitan regions, low and medium income families not involved in the higher paying resource related industries are placing extreme pressure on the public housing stock. While the stock of Public Housing dwellings decrease, the number of individuals and families on the Waiting List has increased to a high of 361 in 2008-09.
