Tom Price, Western Australia

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Tom Price
Western Australia
File:Tom Price - Town Sign.JPG
Entering Tom Price
Tom Price is located in Western Australia
Tom Price
Tom Price
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Population 2,721 (2006 Census)[1]
Established 1960s
Postcode(s) 6751
Elevation 747 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

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".

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 region in Australia, with the average Rio Tinto employee's wage being significantly higher than the Australian average. Tom Price has a population of 2,721, the median age of 29 reflecting Tom Price's relatively young family-oriented community.[1] 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.

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.

Tourist season usually goes from May through to October. This is due to the heat in 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.

Gallery

See also

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2213081

External links