Carnarvon, Western Australia: History
The Inggarda people are the traditional owners of the region around Carnarvon. Before European settlement the place now called Carnarvon, located at the mouth of the Gascoyne River, was known as Kuwinywardu which means 'neck of water'. Indigenous Australians associating with the Carnarvon area typically associate as being Yamatji, traditionally speaking the Wajarri language.
The town was founded in 1883, initially as a port and supply centre for the surrounding region, and is the administrative centre for the Shire of Carnarvon. The town site was officially gazetted on 4 June 1891, named after Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, a past Secretary of State for the Colonies.
One Mile Jetty was built in the late 1890s and had reached its maximum length in 1904. In 2021, it was destroyed by Cyclone Seroja.
Carnarvon has had three tramways.
The first, shown on a Public Works Department map of 1884, ran from a landing site on the river, across Olivia Terrace to a shed on the other side of the road – a very short tramway indeed. The trolley used on this tramway was supposed to be hand powered, using a lever attached to crank on two of the wheels. However, there is a reference to the use of wind-power.
The second tramway, constructed between 1886 and 1887, ran west from Olivia Terrace in a straight line to the jetty, which was halfway between Mangrove Point and Conspicuous Clump. It was horse drawn.
The third, and partially remaining, tramway was completed on 9 November 1900. It runs from the townsite, across Babbage Island to the deep-sea jetty. It was constructed with a rail gauge of 610 millimetres (2 ft). It was 3.3 kilometres (2.06 mi) long. Due to the heavy loads of wool being carried on what was a very light railway, it was decided to convert the tramway to 1,070-millimetre (3 ft 6 in) gauge in 1908–09. This tramway was worked with a steam locomotive. The tramway ceased operation in December 1965.
The Carnarvon Light Railway Association operated trains along restored tracks on the jetty; however, due to unsafe conditions the jetty was closed to the public. In 2021 it was destroyed by Cyclone Seroja.
From 1964 to 1965, 12 sounding rockets were launched from Carnarvon to a maximum altitude of 120 kilometres (75 mi).
During the 1960s, NASA set up a tracking station nearby to support the Gemini and Apollo space programs. The tracking station was closed in the mid-1970s. Only the foundations of the historical site remain. The site is adjacent to the OTC Satellite Earth Station Carnarvon.
On 20 May 1988, the bulk carrier Korean Star ran aground in bad weather near Cape Cuvier, within the port limits of Carnarvon. Around 600 tonnes (1.3 million pounds) of fuel oil were spilled into the ocean. Damage was limited to 10 kilometres (6 mi) of remote beaches and coastline. The ship was not salvaged and left grounded; however, very little of the wreck remains to be seen.
== Economy ==
Main economic activities of the Gascoyne region include: …