Tom Price highlighted in red

Tom Price WA 6751 (Pop 3 700)

Tom Price is a pleasant Pilbara mining town located 1 458 km north of Perth in WA’s North West. Perched on the edge of the Hamersley Range at 747 m, it is the state’s highest town and therefore dubbed ‘Top Town in WA’. A massive iron-ore deposit was discovered here in 1962 which resulted in the construction of the mine, two towns (Tom Price and Dampier) and a railway line connecting them all. Tom Price was named after a US steel company executive who strongly supported the region’s development. Located about 100 km n-e of Tom Price is the former asbestos mining town of Wittenoom which closed in 1966. Local council recommends avoiding the area as it still poses serious health risks if inhaling the asbestos dust.

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Doug Talbot Park good recreational facilities with tropical gardens, shady trees and a variety of birdlife.

Nearby:
Kings Lake (2 km west) man-made lake (no swimming) and popular bushland recreational area. Mt Nameless Lookout (6 km west via walking trail or 4WD gravel track) WA’s highest mountain (1 128 m) offers spectacular district views. Aboriginal carvings (10 km south) about 35 000 years old. Karijini NP (50 km east) covers 100 000 sq km and is WA’s second largest park. Sitting in the picturesque Hamersley Range amidst rugged ochre cliffs, arid spinifex plains and deep gorges and chasms, the park’s waterfalls and rock pools provide some of WA’s best swimming spots. Profusion of termite mounds, rock wallabies and reptile varieties. Mt Bruce (1 235 m) state’s second highest peak with stunning vistas. Hamersley Iron Mine Site. For tours Tel (08) 9188 1112.  

Accommodation:
Tom Price has a hotel, holiday lodge and caravan park. Visitor Information Centre: Central Rd. Tel (08) 9188 1112.

Airports:
Tom Price Airport (TPR) (dirt strip) and Paraburdoo Airport (PBO), Tom Price-Paraburdoo Rd. (72 km south).

Hospital:
Tom Price Hospital, Mine Rd. Tel (08) 9159 5222.