Pilbara sand dunes to the east of Onslow

Onslow (including Thevenard Island, Direction Island, Barrow Island and the Montebello Islands)
Sleepy coastal town near to major offshore oil reserves
Onslow is a quiet sleepy little town which would be very happy if it was never became a major tourist destination. It is a place where people go to fish and to have quiet holidays and in that sense is a very northern equivalent of Cervantes or Jurien. Of course all this peace and quietness will soon disappear as significant oil reserves have been discovered near Thevenard Island and the town's future is, almost certainly, tied to the fortunes of an oil industry which already sees nearby Barrow Island as a major supplier.

Located 1387 km north of Perth, Onslow lies on the coast 82 km from the main North West Coastal Road. It is known in the Pilbara as 'Cyclone City' as, since its establishment in 1883, it has experienced major cyclones in 1926, 1934, 1961 and 1963. The 1963 cyclone had winds which were measured at 232 km/h. In fact the cyclones have occurred with such regularity that they have had profound effects on the town - it was forced to relocate after the 1926 cyclone and the frequency of cyclones in the 1960s forced the reconstruction of the local jetty to be abandoned.

The area around Onslow was first settled in the early 1880s by graziers who brought sheep into the area. In 1883 the town was founded and named after Sir Alexander Onslow (1842-1908), the chief justice of Western Australia at the time. The discovery of gold on the Ashburton River in the 1890s gave the town a brief boost but it was destroyed by the 1926 cyclone and was relocated to its present site on the Beadon River shortly afterwards.

During World War 11 it became an important US submarine refuelling base. As such it was bombed by the Japanese in 1942. It had the dubious privilege of being the most southerly town bombed by the Japanese during the war.

After the war it became an important strategic centre for the atomic experiments on the Montebello Islands.

The Montebello Islands, located to the north west of the town were named after the Duc de Montebello by the French explorer Nicholas Baudin.

As early as 1622 a rocky outcrop to the west of the main island group was the scene of a major shipping disaster when the British vessel Tryal was wrecked with the loss of 97 lives. 46 survivors managed to sail a small boat north to Batavia.

In the late nineteenth century the islands were visited by the pearling fleets which scoured the coastline looking for new pearl beds.

Fame, or perhaps, infamy reached the islands in 1952 when they were chosen as the first site for a series of British atomic bomb tests. Between 1952 and 1956 (when the tests were moved to Maralinga in SA) a number of atomic bombs were exploded on the islands.

Access to the Montebello Islands is still restricted. This is not the case with Barrow Island which is now a major location for offshore oil drilling.

Barrow Island is a reminder of the early history of the Pilbara coast. It was recorded on a Dutch East India company map as early as 1628, was visited by Abel Tasman in 1644, explored by Phillip Parker King in 1818 and named after John Barrow, a secretary of the British Admiralty.

In the 1960s the development of oil on and near Barrow Island raised environmental concerns. The island boasts a series of unique fauna species. As such it is recognised as a fine example of island biogeography (the term refers to the way fauna and flora develop in a unique geographical location) and is consequently of worldwide scientific importance. Although the island had been declared a reserve in 1908, petroleum exploration began in 1963 with production starting in 1967. Recognising the potential problem ChevronTexaco Australia have worked hard to protect the island's unique biodiversity.

Today the company's environmental management plan includes strict quarantine procedures to prevent the introduction of animals, weeds and wildlife diseases. The Island maintains its status as a Class A Nature Reserve and boasts a number of unique fauna species including the Barrow Island Euro, Barrow Island Bandicoot, the Black and white Wren and a number of wallabies, marsupial mice and possums.

Australia's largest and oldest continuously operating onshore oilfield on Barrow has won national and international recognition as a leading example of industry working in harmony with the environment.

Since the 1960s Barrow Island has been an important supplier of Australia's oil and gas requirements.

Things to see:  

Ruins of the Old Town
The ruins of the old town can still be seen. They are located 45 km by road from Onslow with the turnoff being 20 km south of Onslow on the main access road to the town. When the old town was re-sited all potentially portable buildings were moved. Only the old stone and cement buildings like the post office, police station, gaol and hospital remain. The fact that the town was moved so recently means that the observant visitor will find many relics of the past scattered around the lonely settlement.

Mackerel Islands
22 km offshore are the Mackerel Islands which are noted for their sport fishing and bottom fishing, as well as scuba diving and snorkelling. Holiday accommodation is available on Thevenard Island in beach-front cabins that sleep up to 10 people, as well as Club Thevenard accommodation village, which offers twin and double rooms. Direction Island has just one solitary beach cabin, allowing vistors to have the island to themselves. Both offer excellent diving, fishing and snorkelling opportunities. Phone (08) 9184 6444, email: bookings@mackerelisland.com.au http://www.mackerelisland.com.au

	Motels
	Onslow Mackerel Motel Cnr Second Ave & Third St P.O. Box 141 Onslow WA 6710 Telephone: (08) 9184 6444 Facsimile: (08) 9184 6400
	Hotels
	Beadon Bay Hotel Second Ave Onslow WA 6710 Telephone: (08) 9184 6002
	Lodges & Chalets
	Onslow Sun Chalets Second Ave P.O. Box 156 Onslow WA 6710 Telephone: (08) 9184 6058 Rating: ***
	Caravan Parks
	Beadon Bay Village Second Ave Onslow WA 6710 Telephone: (08) 9184 6007
	Ocean View Caravan Park Second Ave Onslow WA 6710 Telephone: (08) 9184 6053 Rating: **
	Restaurants
	Nikki's Licensed Restaurant 336 First Ave Onslow WA 6710 Telephone: (08) 9184 6121