Whyalla, formerly SA's largest regional centre until recent times, is a well known industrial city that lies on the western side of upper Spencer Gulf forming part of the Iron Triangle. The city grew around the discovery of iron ore at nearby Iron Knob with Whyalla acting as the port to ship the ore to Port Pirie. In the late 1950's BHP chose Whyalla as a site for their steelworks with a shipyard and deepwater port developed shortly after. In this period Whyalla grew quickly to support the sudden influx of workers. This sporadic growth has given the city an unusual layout with the eastern part and CBD forming "old" Whyalla with the more planned western areas existing primarily after BHP had established itself. Due to the arid, dry and often vegetation free landscape that Whyalla resides in, its a wonder that a city exists aside from the ocean presence. Nevertheless, considerable work has been undertaken to try and make the city attractive where possible with Ada Ryan Gardens the standout feature (recommended). Also around the city are several lookouts, with Hummock Hill being the prominent vantage point where a 360 degree view can be gained (unfortunately the prevailing pollution from BHP has taken its toll on many of the CBD buildings with permanent colour changes), tours through the BHP works and the Whyalla marina. Whyalla's size has shrunk over the last 10 years from a population of once 34,000 or so as BHP have reduced operations and due to the eventual shutdown of the shipyards. With the lack of other surrounding rural industry and little through traffic on the Lincoln Highway, Whyalla is unlikely to ever form as a significant regional centre thus its fate may ultimately rest with the prosperity of the local iron ore mining and steel works.

Population: 22,900
State: South Australia
Postcode: 5600
Location: 392km north of Adelaide
Local Government: Whyalla City Council
Main Roads: Lincoln Highway 
Main Watercourses: Spencer Gulf
Radio Stations (Music): Magic FM (105.9), Triple Y (107.7), Triple J (103.5) 

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

	View north over the BHP Steelworks & False Bay from Hummock Hill lookout, Whyalla (2003).
	Whyalla CBD, looking west from Hummock Hill (note the pink complexion most buildings and any permanent fixtures receive) (2003).
	View west over northern Whyalla from Hummock Hill lookout (2003).
	View south over the town beach, Ada Ryan Gardens and into the Spencer Gulf from Hummock Hill lookout, Whyalla (2003).
	Ada Ryan Gardens, looking south in Whyalla (2003).
	Playford Avenue (Lincoln Hwy) looking south-west in Whyalla (2003).
	Forsyth Street, looking east at the junction with Farrell Street, Whyalla (2003).
	Looking west down Patterson Street from Jamieson Tce, Whyalla (2003).
	Broadbent Terrace, heading south-west in Whyalla (2003).
	Elliot Street, heading west approaching Essington Lewis Dve, Whyalla (2003).
	Essington Lewis Drive, looking south approaching Elliot Street, Whyalla (2003).
	Playford Ave, heading south in Whyalla (2003).
	The Lincoln Hwy, looking south towards Whyalla (2003).
	Jenkins Avenue, looking west from the McDouall Stuart roundabout - this is a typical Whyalla suburban road in the newer, western areas (2003).
	McDouall Stuart Avenue, looking north from Jenkins Ave, Whyalla - always interesting to see planned arterial roads that never eventuated in their fully developed form, especially in regional cities where they abut barren landscape such as this (2003).