Blog

Jun 04, 2023

Abandoned Wittenoom on track for demolition

Late last year an uncontrolled bushfire destroyed multiple buildings at asbestos-littered Wittenoom, the abandoned town in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. Wittenoom was due to be demolished in

Late last year an uncontrolled bushfire destroyed multiple buildings at asbestos-littered Wittenoom, the abandoned town in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

Wittenoom was due to be demolished in coming months, but the bushfire ripped through the site before crews could start dismantling properties.

The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said the fire was reported by a nearby mining company on Boxing Day, but a firefighting crew was not sent due to the local asbestos contamination and because the town was empty.

Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Newman resident Amy Brogan was in the area to visit local waterholes and said it was sad to see the historic town go up in flames.

“But obviously, they have to get rid of it at some stage and, if that’s the way nature’s going to take it, well that’s the way it’s going to go,” Brogan said.

The town was built to house workers for the nearby asbestos mines and their families. The deadly mineral led to the death of an estimated 1,200 workers and residents, with the mines’ asbestos tailings still scattered throughout the region.

The state government last year completed a drawn-out process to acquire the town’s remaining properties and remove the final residents to pave the way for demolition.

Ms Brogan said the fire travelled from hills adjacent to the town and destroyed multiple buildings.

A DFES spokesperson said two derelict buildings burnt down but Ms Brogan believed that number could be higher.

“By the time we had left, the fire was still going,” Brogan said.

“A lot of the buildings that are left there, they’re quite in close proximity to one another. I can’t imagine the fire didn’t spread onto the other houses.”

The DFES spokesperson said the asbestos contamination meant an official survey had not been conducted.

A Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage spokesperson said the government was still working to understand the full extent of any damage, but the demolition remained scheduled to start in March after the cyclone season.

When the state government closed the town, it strongly discouraged visitors to the region, which was littered with asbestos.

Ms Brogan said learning about the dark history of the town as well as the picturesque landscape firsthand were worth the health risks.

“It still has beautiful gorges and waterfalls,” Brogan said.

2023 LEOTECH ROTOFOG RFA 20 - DUST SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

$1

Somersby, NSW

DEHACO TERA 60

$65,000

Loganholme, QLD

DONALDSON-TORIT DB-3000

$14,500

Sunshine North, VIC

DCE VOKES DALAMATIC DUST EXTRACTOR

$21,000

Sunshine North, VIC

SPRAYSTREAM SPRAY STREAM

$12,345

Stapylton, QLD

2023 LEOTECH MOTOFOG MFX20 MOBILE DUST SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

POA

Somersby, NSW

2023 LEOTECH MOTOFOG MF60D MOBILE DUST SUPPRESSION SYSTEM Motofog

POA

POA

per day (HIRE)

Somersby, NSW

2023 LEOTECH MOTOFOG MF40D MOBILE DUST SUPPRESSION SYSTEM Motofog

POA

POA

per day (HIRE)

Somersby, NSW

AEROTECH LARGE CENTRIFUGAL BLOWER FAN 90KW

$12,000

Broadmeadows, VIC

KEMPER FILTER-MASTER 3M ARM WELDING SMOKE FUME EXTRACTOR

$4,500

Broadmeadows, VIC

BLOWER CENTRIFUGAL BLOWER FAN - 2.2KW

$3,300

Broadmeadows, VIC

AEROTECH LARGE CENTRIFUGAL BLOWER FAN - 22KW

$8,800

Broadmeadows, VIC