Dampier

The town of Dampier takes its name from the English seaman and explorer, William Dampier, who visited the Dampier Archipelago in 1688.

Dampier is one of two towns built by Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, the other being Tom Price.  Both towns were developed as ‘closed’ or company towns. The towns were established at either end of the iron ore project, Dampier being the port. 

In order to reach loading facilities at Dampier, a causeway had to be built across the mud flats, converting Dampier from an island.   In July 1965 earthworks commenced for the railway which was to join Tom Price to Dampier, and by June 1966 the mainline track was completed.

The Town of Dampier was proclaimed on 30 June 1972.

Water supplies for Dampier were initially taken from Miaree Pool on Karratha Station, then a desalination plant was established in the Dampier  Power station, which was superseded firstly by a 105 kilometre pipeline from Millstream, then by  the construction of the Harding Dam in 1985.