Wiluna story

Wiluna Shire once stretched to the boarders of South Australia and Northern Territory and until July 3 1993 when the eastern end became the Ngaanyatjarraku Shire, it was the largest shire in the world. Wiliuna Shire is now 184,000 sq km in area and is home to a population of around 800.

Gold mining in the area caused the town to thrive and prosper, with the population growing to over nine thousand people by the mid 1930’s. At its peak, the town had a regular railway service to Perth, four hotels and many other amenities and facilities.

The origin of the name Weeloona (Wiluna’s original name) has not been determined, although it is thought to have been derived either from a native word meaning “Place of Winds” or the sound of the cry of some native curlew birds in the area.

Wiluna now has a number of major mining operations within a 150 km radius of the township. These include Apex Minerals NL, Newmont Jundee, and BHP Billiton Nickel West.

Further information about Wiluna can be found on the Wiluna Shire Council website.

The information on this page has been sourced from:

Services to Indigenous People in the Shire Of Wiluna - Mapping and Gap Analysis, Department of Indigenous Affairs, Government of Western Australia, 2004.

ABS Regional Population Growth, Australia, 1996 to 2006, Cat no 3218