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The town's facilities include a post office, supermarket, milk bar, tavern and hotel, sportsmen's club, bank agencies and a service station. The public swimming pool is a popular spot during summer, as is the open air cinema which is free of charge.
The sporting scene consists mainly of soccer, cricket, squash, touch rugby, speedway and pistol shooting. Social highlight of the year includes the Gala Day and Ball, held every July and the Robe River Rodeo which was established in 1995 and is held in September. The Rodeo is the only event of its kind in the Pilbara and is well supported by the local community and pastoral properties, with competitors and visitors coming from across the State for this spectacular event. The Rodeo normally held in early September is a must see. Don't miss out. For information on this event contact the Pannawonica Police Station +61 (0)8 9184 1222. Pannawonica has a long history.
For the adventurous Pannawonica makes a good place to refuel and obtain supplies before heading east into the Millstream/Chichester National Park which is only 1.5 hours from Pannawonica along the Millstream - Yarraloola road. Note : The Millstream - Yarraloola road is unsuitable for busses, caravans, trailers or two wheel drive vehicles. It is recommended that the road only be travelled by well prepared four wheel drive vehicles and that travellers notify the Pannawonica Police or the Millstream Ranger of their intention to travel. |
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29 November, 1999 Site Designed by |
Pannawonica
was established over 25 years ago and today has a population of 700.
For Pannawonica visitors, accommodation is not a
problem, with well appointed motel style units available at the Tavern. For the
budget conscious there is a powered, four bay Caravan Park with grassy, camping
sites also available.
Thousands of years ago Pannawonica was
part of an island called Collanbogan located offshore near Mardie Station. Two
tribes, the Anailya "mob" and the Boogada "mob", fought over
this beautiful island and the mainlanders, the Boogada, conspired to steal it
for themselves. It was during a time when there were many ghosts around that the
Boogada tribe made their crossing to ask the Anailya if they may have
Pannawonica. The islanders were, however, unwilling to part with their pride and
joy. So the other tribe waited until their enemy went fishing and crept out to
Collanbogan and stole the hill away. No one is sure how they carried the
mountain from the island to its present resting place, but according to legend
its track left a scar across the landscape known today as the Pannawonica track.
Somewhere along its length a gap was made when the tribe forced it through the
hillside.
Once the hill had been stolen it was finally delivered
to its resting place high above the Robe River and was used over the years to
shelter and protect the tribe who had made it their own. The Boogada found
themselves occasionally defending the hill and when the enemy was sighted they
made their way to the top. And that, according to Aboriginal legend, is how
Pannawonica got its local landmark, Pannawonica Hill.