Paraburdoo

There are two explanations for the name Paraburdoo; the first being the  nearby ‘Pirraburdoo’ pastoral lease, which is an Aboriginal name for the white little corella which live in the area; the second being an Aboriginal name Piru-Pardu, meaning ‘meat feathers’ in reference to the white cockatoos which frequent the area.

Paraburdoo is at an elevation of 365 metres and is 388 kilometres from Dampier by rail.  Construction of the town commenced in January 1970, the first residents moved in September that year.   Paraburdoo is situated about 80 kilometres from Tom Price and is also a ‘closed’ town. Paraburdoo was gazetted as a town in 1972.

The town has a population of approximately 1,400 people and the facilities include swimming pool and sporting facilities, supermarket, police station, library, shire office, post office, TAFE, primary school hospital and churches.  An airport which services Paraburdoo and Tom Price is located 15 miles from Paraburdoo.