What is Koolyanobbing known for?

Koolyanobbing is best known for its iron ore mining history, with extraction occurring at the site since 1948. The locality was operated by a series of major mining companies including BHP, Portman Mining, Cliffs Natural Resources, and Mineral Resources, before the Yilgarn Hub operations closed in late 2024. Salt mining also occurs at nearby Lake Deborah and Lake Seabrook.

How far is Koolyanobbing from Perth?

Koolyanobbing is approximately 400 kilometres east of Perth, reached via Great Eastern Highway. The nearest service town, Southern Cross, is about 54 kilometres to the south and is the practical hub for the area.

Does Koolyanobbing have public transport?

There is no public transport servicing Koolyanobbing directly. The TransWA Prospector rail/coach service runs to Southern Cross, approximately 54 kilometres away, but a private vehicle is essential for reaching or living in the locality.

What is the population of Koolyanobbing?

The 2021 Census recorded a population of 93 in Koolyanobbing, comprising 82 males and 16 females. This heavily skewed gender ratio reflects the mine worker camp character of the locality, and the population is expected to decline following the mine closure in late 2024.

Is Koolyanobbing a good place to live?

Koolyanobbing is a highly specialised mining locality with very limited permanent residential appeal. Following the closure of the iron ore operations in late 2024, opportunities for long-term settlement are minimal, and the area is extremely remote with no local services or retail.

What is the postcode for Koolyanobbing?

The postcode for Koolyanobbing is 6427, which it shares with Southern Cross and other localities in the Shire of Yilgarn in Western Australia.

Koolyanobbing

WA 6427 • Western Australia

Population (2021)

N/A

Median Income

527.56 km²

Area

N/A

Median Rent

RemoteMining TownRuralOutback

About Koolyanobbing

Koolyanobbing is a remote mining locality in the Shire of Yilgarn in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, situated approximately 54 kilometres north-north-east of Southern Cross and around 400 kilometres east of Perth. The locality covers a vast 527 square kilometres of semi-arid scrubland and is home primarily to iron ore mining infrastructure. The 2021 Census recorded a population of 93 residents, with a notably skewed gender profile of 82 males to just 16 females, reflecting its mine camp character.

Iron ore has been extracted at Koolyanobbing since 1948, making it one of Western Australia's longer-running iron ore operations. The mine was developed in the 1960s and subsequently operated by a succession of companies including BHP, Portman Mining, Cliffs Natural Resources, and Mineral Resources. In late 2024, Mineral Resources closed its Yilgarn Hub operations at Koolyanobbing, citing financial viability. Salt is also extracted from nearby Lake Deborah and Lake Seabrook. The town of Southern Cross, the nearest service centre, provides the closest shops, fuel, and accommodation for the region.

Koolyanobbing falls under postcode 6427 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Central Wheatbelt (Agricultural) electorate.

📍 Location

State

Western Australia

Postcode

6427

Urban Area

N/A

LGA / Council

N/A

Federal Electorate

Durack

State Electorate

Central Wheatbelt (Agricultural)

Type

Locality

Timezone

Perth (UTC+8)

Coordinates

-30.85°, 119.54°

Statistical Area

N/A

Area

527.56 km²

Elevation

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

TransWA coach (Prospector/coach route) — Perth via Merredin and Northam (stops at Southern Cross) ~5 hours to Perth from Southern Cross

Commute to Perth CBD

Distance

400 km

By Train

No direct train service; Transwa Prospector rail service runs to Southern Cross (~54 km away)

By Car (Peak)

4-4.5 hours

By Car (Off-Peak)

4-4.5 hours

🛣️ Great Eastern Highway connects to Perth. A private vehicle is essential. Southern Cross is the nearest service town.

Walkability Almost All Errands Require a Car

Koolyanobbing is a remote mining locality with no retail services; all daily needs require travel to Southern Cross or beyond.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

No schools listed for this postcode.

👥 Demographics

Census 2016

Census 2021

▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Income 2016

N/A

Income 2021

N/A

▲ 0% increase

Income Comparison

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021

💰 Income: ABS Census 2021