Tom Price, Western Australia

Tom Price, situated in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, is a mining town. The town is located inland, at the edge of the Hamersley Range. Tom Price is the highest town above sea level (747 metres (2,451 ft)) in Western Australia, and is consequently dubbed "Top Town in WA".

Tom Price
Western Australia
Entering Tom Price
Tom Price
Coordinates22°41′38″S 117°47′42″E
Population3,005 (2016 census)[1]
Established1960s
Postcode(s)6751
Elevation747 m (2,451 ft)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Ashburton
State electorate(s)Central Kimberley-Pilbara
Federal Division(s)Durack
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
33.3 °C
92 °F		 18.7 °C
66 °F		 280.8 mm
11.1 in

Overview

Primarily an iron ore mining town, the Mount Tom Price mine (situated approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) out of town) is under the control of mining giant Rio Tinto. Due to the recent resources boom in Western Australia Tom Price is currently one of the more affluent non-metropolitan regions in Australia, with the average Rio Tinto employee's wage being significantly higher than the Australian average. Tom Price has a population of 3005, the median age of 31 reflecting Tom Price's relatively young family-oriented community.[2] The town is named after Thomas Moore Price, the vice-president of the U.S.-based steel company Kaiser Steel. Tom Price is the closest town to Karijini National Park and is serviced by the nearby Paraburdoo Airport.

Origin of the name of the town

Tom Price (both the town, the mine and the mountain) was named after Thomas Moore Price, the vice-president of the giant United States steel company Kaiser Steel. Price was one of the main initiators and supporters of the opening up of the Pilbara region to iron ore mining.[3]

Recreational activities

Tom Price is a very sports-oriented community, partly due to the young population and the lack of other facilities within the town. Tom Price has a range of recreational activities including motocross, speedway, BMX, and many sporting facilities including an Olympic-sized pool, well-equipped gym, tennis, squash, netball, volleyball, golf and basketball courts and three ovals used for football, softball and soccer.

The Fortescue National Football League organises Australian rules football in Tom Price and the nearby town of Paraburdoo.

The town also boasts an unusually high level of artists. Artists in Tom Price often focus on painting and photography, such works often focus on landscapes or linked with Aboriginal heritage.

Attractions

Being situated in the Pilbara, Tom Price is in a close proximity to many popular attractions, including Karijini National Park, Millstream, Wittenoom and Mount Nameless/Jarndunmunha.

Tourist season usually goes from May through to October. This is due to the heat of the Australian Summer, and the irregular cyclones from October to April.

Schools

Due to its isolation and small population many parents choose to send their children away to boarding schools to further their secondary education, particularly university-bound students, as Tom Price Senior High lacks the student numbers to fulfil the required class numbers set by the Department of Education and Training for many Tertiary Entrance Examination (TEE) subjects. Some TEE subjects are available through distance education (SIDE).

Many students further their studies in areas linked to the mines such as through automotive and trade subjects, often linking into apprenticeships.

  • Tom Price Senior High School
  • Fern Pool in Karijini National Park is a popular destination for tourists
  • Jarndunmunha (Mount Nameless), the second highest peak in Western Australia with vehicle access (after Mount Meharry), is located in Tom Price.[4]

See also
  • Red Dog Story

Notes
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "2016 Community Profiles: {{{name}}}". 2016 Census of Population and Housing. https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC51443?opendocument
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Tom Price (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  3. "Tom Price, WA". Aussie Towns. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  4. http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2213081
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