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The original Onslow was proclaimed a town in 1883 and named after Sir Alexander Onslow, the Chief Justice of Western Australia at the time. It supported the nearby pastoral stations that had been established along the Ashburton River and the gold mines that had developed in the hinterland.
By 1925, the port facilities at the mouth of the Ashburton were affected by the silting up of the river causing more and more problems in the loading and unloading of visiting ships. Surveys proved that there was deep water at Beadon Point and so the town was moved some eighteen kilometres to the east to it's present location. A jetty of some three quarters of a kilometre in length was constructed to cater for the State Ships and Blue Funnel Line which plied to Singapore. These ships brought in almost all provisions, building equipment, timber and general merchandise. Exports included wool, pearl shell and minerals. The jetty was badly damaged by a cyclone in 1934 and had to be rebuilt. Onslow was actively involved in World War II with the Navy refuelling at the jetty and the town becoming the furthest town south to be bombed by the Japanese. On the night of May 15 1943 a solo plane dropped three bombs on the airstrip with no casualties or damage to aircraft. The Royal Navy used Onslow as its base between 1952 and 1956 to conduct tests on the nearby Monte Bello Islands culminating in an atomic bomb explosion. The post war period saw pearling start again, but only in a small way as most were commandeered by the armed forces or destroyed during World War II. The last commercially operating lugger was sold in 1965 and today pearling is only a small industry with the shells farmed for blister and culture pearls. The jetty continued to serve Onslow until March 1961 when another cyclone demolished more than 300 metres. State Ships were thus prevented from calling at the jetty and were forced to anchor offshore where they loaded and unloaded via a lighter. In 1972, the present landing was established in Beadon Creek and the jetty fell into disrepair it was eventually destroyed completely during an Army demolition exercise in 1982. Onslow's population averages around 880 people, reaching it's peak during the southern winter when many people move to Onslow to escape the colder southern climate. The town enjoys an idyllic climate all year round. From April to September, however, the weather is particularly beautiful making it perfect for many holiday makers. Tourist attractions include the Goods Shed Museum in the main street. Sunrise and Sunset beaches surround Onslow with their unique beauty. Visit the lookouts and take in the view of the islands. The ruins of the Old Onslow town site, the cemetery and remains of the jetty that served the sailing vessels of early this century are well worth a visit, as is the mighty Ashburton River. Onslow has a hotel with accommodation and meals available, two caravan parks with units and caravans for hire, as well as self-contained chalets and motel style rooms. Information about Onslow can be obtained from the Onslow Tourist Centre, located on Second Avenue (telephone 08 9184 6644) or contact the Onslow Shire Office. |
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16 February, 2000 Site Designed by |
One of the first recorded stations
was Minderoo which was established in 1882. By 1890 all land along the river had been
taken up, running mainly sheep, but also a few cattle. Today it is predominantly cattle
with a few sheep. In the early settlement days good pearls were found in the Exmouth Gulf
and the town became home port to a fleet of pearling luggers. 