Nullagine, Western Australia

A small hamlet near Marble Bar which has survived its hot and isolated environment because of tin mining activities in the area.
Location: 112 km south of Marble Bar, 1,364 km north north east of Perth and 297 km south east of Port Hedland on the pastoral lease of Bonney Downs Station. Nullagine is located in the Shire Of East Pilbara. It is the largest shire in the world and includes Newman, Marble Bar and Nullagine townships.
Origin of name: named after the local Ngalagunya Aboriginal name for the river which runs through the centre of town.
Brief history: gold was first discovered here by NW Cooke in 1886 which sparked a mini goldrush, though the town came into being some years later. In 1902 Nullagine was the site of Australia's first discovery of diamonds but the development of this and subsequent small alluvial deposits proved not economically viable. Since then prospectors and fossickers have come to the area and found agate, asbestos, antimony, beryl, chalcedony, copper, jade, jasper, manganese, tiger eye and wolfram. Prior to World War II the population was nearly 1,500. Today Nullagine is home to a small number of prospectors, goldminers and the Yirrangadji Aboriginal Community. The population fluctuates depending on the season, but generally is home to about 250 people, most of whom are of Aboriginal descent.
Built features: Kintyre Uranium lease
Natural features: Nullagine River; Rudall River National Park (275 km east); Elle's Pool; Conglomerate Gorge