Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Weipa

Weipa

Weipa, one of Queensland's most northerly towns is located on the west coast of Cape York. The town was built in 1961 on the site of an existing Aboriginal mission and is the home of the world's largest bauxite mine. The large port 10km south allows ships to take the bauxite to the aluminium smelter & refinery in Gladstone. The town, surrounded by a mixture of mangrove plantations, exposed bauxite operations and un-spoilt eucalypt forests provides a full range of services for the locals and visitors. With only an unsealed road for most of the journey from Cairns, the majority of transport is via the airport where passenger services run 3-4 times daily.

Population: 2,300
State: Queensland
Name Origin: Name means "fighting ground" in the local Aboriginal dialect.
Pronunciation: Wee-pa
Postcode: 4874
Local Government: Cook Shire Council
Location: 2520km north west of Brisbane, 815km north-west of Cairns
Main Roads: None
Main Watercourses: Mission River, Gulf of Carpentaria
Radio Stations (Music): Rebel FM (97.7)

Photos from Weipa (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Looking north over Weipa and the Mission River bridge in the distance (2001).

Central Avenue, heading north in Weipa (2001).

The Weipa Airport, looking north (2001).

The Mission River bridge, looking north towards Andoom, Weipa (2001).

	Looking north over Weipa and the Mission River bridge in the distance (2001).
	Central Avenue, heading north in Weipa (2001).
	The Weipa Airport, looking north (2001).
	The Mission River bridge, looking north towards Andoom, Weipa (2001).