Take a Look at Mid West WA

There is so much to discover in the diverse Mid West region. A wealth of resources and natural beauty takes you on a journey through a range of industries. Here are a few examples:

• Closer to the coast, you will find the City of Greater Geraldton, Dongara, Kalbarri and the newly named national park, the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. There is a wide range of local businesses with talented staff who support every aspect of industries in the area and throughout WA.
• The ancient outback in the Murchison area is home to the oldest rocks in the world. The night skies offer a kaleidoscope of astronomical wonders and pastoral leases which are the size of small countries.
• The broad-acre farming land of the North Midlands awakens in spring with vibrant cascades of wildflowers across the breakaway country. These host one of the biggest open gardens in the world!
• The pristine coastline of the Batavia Coast and its rich coastal bounty includes the Western Rock Lobster of the Indian Ocean. A treasure of marine stories opens, full of courage and mutiny, to thrill all who dare discover them. A diverse culture of people and activities guarantees enjoyment to all who visit this region.

 Aboriginal culture thrives in the Mid West with localised Aboriginal language groups, collectively known as Yamatji.  The collective includes the Amangu, Naaguja, Wadjarri, Nanda and Badimia groups. Additionally the region includes the Western Desert people known as the Martu people.

The Mid West hosts a rich diversity of industry and opportunity for investors. Join in this growing economy that comprises mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture industries and a wide array of mineral wealth comprising iron ore, mineral sands, talc, energy deposits, natural gas, silver, nickel and copper.

Quick Facts

The Mid West and Gascoyne region:

• covers about 1/3 of Western Australia or 600,000 sq km
  
• has a population of 65,000
• is managed by 21 Local Government Authorities providing services to communities that range in size from 90 to 39,000 people (scroll down for more)
• a gross regional product of $6.78B
• resources and agricultural sectors are the foundation of the region’s economy
• Tourism, value added food production, aquaculture, education and training and construction are growth sectors
• 84% of the Gascoyne is covered by 67 pastoral leases

Breathtaking Gascoyne

The Gascoyne region stretches across some 600km of pristine, postcard-perfect coastline that borders the Indian Ocean.  This includes:

• The breathtaking, World Heritage area of Shark Bay. It is well known for its pearling history, sensational shell beaches, stromatolites and the dolphins at Monkey Mia.
• The Ningaloo Reef, Cape Range National Park showcases the world’s largest fringing reef bursting with marine life including the breathtaking whale sharks.
• The rich ochre reds of the desert country. The vast outback of the Upper Gascoyne leads to Mt Augustus, the largest monolith in the world, and the awe-inspiring Kennedy Ranges which are part of the Kennedy Range National Park. This is ancient land rich in Aboriginal culture and tradition where the Burringarrah Aboriginal Community call home.
• Carnarvon is a sub-tropical coastal town that sits on the banks of the powerful Gascoyne River. This fresh water river system enables the successful growth of a diverse agriculture industry, recognised as the ‘food bowl’ of Western Australia and is a regional hub for many outlining pastoralists. Carnarvon gained world recognition for playing a part as integral support with its Tracking Station, ensuring man landed successfully on the moon. Now a space museum is a major attraction in town.

 
The Gascoyne has a rich cultural heritage that shares this knowledge to all who visit ‘Gwoonwardu Mia’. This is the Gascoyne Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Centre, home to the five language groups, Yingarrda, Baiynuga, Thudgarri, Talnyi and Malganna.
 
The Gascoyne showcases a diverse economy with tourism playing the key role in wealth creation in conjunction with fishing, horticultural, mining and pastoralism. The strong growth of the tourism sector, good water resources and management of natural environment, encourages economic and social development in this region.

Our Region

The Mid West Gascoyne region is comprised of 20 shires and the City of Greater Geraldton.  Click below to learn about a particular local government:

Carnamah

Carnarvon

Chapman Valley

Coorow

Cue

Exmouth

Greater Geraldton

Irwin

Meekatharra

Mingenew

Morawa

Mount Magnet

Murchison

Northampton

Perenjori

Sandstone

Shark Bay

Three Springs

Upper Gascoyne

Wiluna

Yalgoo