WA FacesEach face has a story to tell. We all have stories about who we are, our connections to family, friends and Country, and how we came to live and work in Western Australia. Join the WA Faces album; share your portrait and your story and help us show the world what it means to be Western Australian. Warning:Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that this website may contain images of, or reference to, deceased people. SHARE YOUR PHOTO HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT THE NEW MUSEUM
"What makes me stay? The community. Hedland is home. I know people, I like that I might know five people when just 'popping out'. You feel like you're someone here, it's not the same in Perth. Port Hedland was always a really transient town, it's still that for some but not me. Now we're more aware of town, 'we're here'." Connor
I was born here in Port Hedland. I moved to Perth - it wasn't home - I had my first child and moved back. Been here now for ten years. Lincoln
I came from South Africa, I studied in Sydney. I have family there. I got a sponsorship here, in Port Hedland, on a 187 Visa. I work in childcare. I've been here a year and eight months. It used to be a lot busier and it's quietened down. I love it here, we like camping, we like the gorges and the parks. Lyandi
I'm a gymnast, my favourite gymnastics is the uneven bars. When I grow up I would like to teach gymnastics and go to the Olympics to represent as an Aboriginal gymnastic champ. Simone Biles is my inspiration. Adrianna
We moved here in 2009, from Brisbane and (Bronwen) and Perth (Hedley). We felt it was middle ground, a new opportunity for each of our kids to have a fresh start and start as a family on neutral ground. When we first moved the community was very open, everyone helps out and is open to lending a hand. We've noticed that businesses look to diversifying their business to remain open, in the face of economic challenges, because they/people now want to stay. The development of South Hedland and new infrastructure is a change we've really noticed since we came here, it's a positive change. We believe in buying and supporting local. Bronwen & Hedley
"My partner, he works here on the mines. We met in Broome. I was travelling, he was there on a break - he invited me for the weekend, to see a few things - to Karajini Gorge. We fell in love, I stayed. I was used to big cities, in Germany. I thought this was such a lonely place (Port Hedland), but once I got out and met people - there is a real community here. Everyone is really holding together. It won't be forever, we've talked about moving back to Victoria. (What do you love about Port Hedland?) The people, also being close to the beach. There's a lot to do. You can get quite close to nature. I don't like camping in campistes, but here you can camp in the outback." Kerstin
I'm up from Perth to visit my daughter and grandson. My kids came from Ireland about five years ago, I love it (Perth). The lifestyle, weather, the relaxed attitude and family. I plan to stay. Susan
"We needed to quit the 9-5 jobs and lifestyle. So 21 months ago decided to quit work and travel to Australia. We got married earlier this year in Tasmania. We are travelling around Australia seeing where we want to settle - the South West (WA) area is really appealing, but going to the NT now to explore and then we will make our decision. We are really interested in the tiny house phenomenon and living simply. It had been hard leaving friends, family and all we know but it has been worth it - we have each other." Rhiannon
"(Doug) Been here five months. Stopped FIFO, I work for BHP now. For ten years I did two on and two off, I moved to two and one and then decided it was time for a change. (Emily) It's a close community here in Hedland. A great network, I've met lots of people. I can understand locals being a bit anti-FIFO as they don't contribute anything to the community, but it's neccessary for peak work times." Doug, Emily & Theo
My husband changed from FIFO to a residential role with BHP. Our lifestyle hasn’t really changed, but having Daddy home every day has made a huge difference to our relationships. The children are so happy to see Dad every night. We are enjoying what nature has to offer a lot more here as it is so much easier to get amongst it. Emily
I came here for work. The sun always shines here. In three short months life has slowed down and I notice more. Everyone I have met (in Port Hedland) have been genuine, lovely and generous. Alix
"I always wanted to travel up the west coast and north of Australia. I've taken long service leave for the trip, I'd heard about other people's experiences. It's such an interesting town, with the industry and the people. There's a strong sense of community. I love the landscape, the country is always changing." Jennifer
We met working in a Sydney restaurant, we're driving through (Port Hedland). We fed the dolphins in Monkey Mia, we got to dive with whale sharks and we swam in the natural pool at Karajini. It's very special, big sky, sunrise over the landscapes. Yashar
I'm doing the artist's residency for FORM at Spinifex Hill. I'll be looking at the pearling industry here on a research residency. Pilar
I work for FORM, building a state of creativity. We work in the community of Port Hedland, running the visitor centre, the Courthouse Gallery, Spinifex Hill Artists and the West End Markets. I joined FORM recently and am here to get to know the Pilbara better and understand the context in which we operate. And to expeirence the Hedland Art Awards! A brilliant time to be here. Rania
We're travelling all around Australia. We're traveling back to Sydney for work sponsorship, to be a manager in hospitality. Sandra
"I'm travelling around WA, from Perth to Darwin. Three of us (travellers) met in Sydney working in a German restaurant. Australia is huge. 25, 30 Germany's fit in Australia." Nadine
"We moved here three years ago from Darwin for my husband's job. He works in Government. I love the lifestyle here as it is quite similar to Darwin. We have noticed a huge change, especially at the kids's school. Lots of their friends are leaving Port Hedland to go back to Perth or the east coast. We are seeing that a lot of the long term Port Hedland-ers are leaving which is having a massive impact on the community." Alison, Megan & Ashley
"I came here from England with my fiance and bought a campervan. We’ve been travelling around Australia for 21 months, looking for a place to call home. So we've immigrated. We've been in Port Hedland now for two days. The Pilbara is beautiful, it's wild and rugged. Australia has a lot of wild and rugged places, but there's something else about the Pilbara. (Could you see yourself staying in Port Hedland?) That's really hard. The summers are really hard. It takes a particular kind of person to live in a place like this. That's the sort of thing that makes it extroadinary. We've loved the South West, we think that's the place for us." Thomas
"I grew up in the Pilbara during the 60s. I came to Port Hedland when I was seven, in 1968, and left in 1979. I returned a couple of years ago. I was one of the first families to move to South Hedland. I work in an aged care facility in Roeburn, mainly Aboriginal residents. I grew up around Aboriginal people, now I am looking after them - it's funny how life is 'full circle'. (How as Port Hedland changed?) Pretty Pool, it was a rubbish dump and now it's a suburb. There were no bitumen roads when I lived here as a kid. Sport was a big part of life then. I had no TV as a kid, there was more community involvement. The saddest thing is the FIFO workers, how they a seperate life, don't contribute to the community spirit. The town is more beautified now, that's a good thing. The other sad thing is the Aboriginal people, disenfranchised by having to move in to town. They were never asked what they want." Teresa & Audrey
I'm in Port Hedland visiting my daughter and staying here to escape the South Australian winter. Voula is my daughter's friend. Mourilyan & Voula
(It's changed) A lot. When we first got here it felt like a prison, bars on the windows - it was like a cyclone town. They built the shopping centre and the skate park in South Hedland. This town is family friendly. We've got an art gallery, there are nice places to eat. A taste of the city life, it's enough. I think living in remote areas brings out the rawness in people. If you're unhappy you'll be really unhappy, but if you are okay with your life you'll thrive. We have people we call Aunty and Uncle, none of us have our family here, we have made our own family, it brings us together. Amber & Seren
We've been here for three years. My husband and I are from North Queensland and we moved to the NT. In the NT we had our first child, it was a remote community and childcare was hard. Wherever we had the first offer is where we went and my husband got papers here first. Amber & Seren
"I'm originally from Leederville, Perth and moved to Port Hedland in 1942. I joined the army during WW2, I'm 91 but the army thinks I'm 94 because I bumped up my age by 3 years so I could join. During these years I went to New Guinea, Japan, the Kimberley. I've been to a lot of places in WA and done a lot, from well sinking to bar work. I've mined everything except iron ore, including a six month stint in Wittenoom. Hedland has changed enormously since I first arrived, once it was just 350 people. The town went for only 1 mile from the Post Office. We used to hunt for kangaroos and wild turkey where South Hedland is now. Pretty Pool was just a picnic spot. " Mervyn
"All the kids were teenage - late teens - and have blossomed up here with work and family. I lecture at TAFE and Vicky is in the police force. We got out of our comfort zone and enjoyed the Pilbara. We've seen a lot of change, good and bad. We travel a lot in the region, there's so much to see." Derek & Vicky
"(What brought you to the the Pibara?) Work and Family. We came for the opportunity and didn't anticipate staying so long. We love the adventures and remote location, we love travelling. I've worked for the State Emergency Service for 11 years. Derek
"We came here on a wing and a prayer. The kids had finished high-school, we brought our youngest son. I'm a nurse and my husband has a lot of tickets and licenses, we can work anywhere. We've been here three years, almost to the day. Working in mental health (when we first arrived) it was day-to-day mental health issues. It then became about the downturn, people in crisis, coming to us for help. But it's changing back again now. It's become more of a town. It's less transient now, the people here are here because they live here. It's more of a town. I think it'll turn around, back in to that boom. It'll be another eight or ten years. My son, he finishes this year and he wants to do an apprenticeship - diesel mechanic. Everyone says it's the place for it. No one's done apprenticeships for a number of years. They're starting them again next year, they'll be more kids and less positions." Katrina
"(I came to the Pilbara) to see more of Australia. It's a really great way to appreciate how old and diverse the State is. Some of the oldest artworks can be found here in our very own backyard - much older than the European masters. I came to Port Hedland as a stop over on my way to Karijini and discovered that there is a lot more going on here, so I stayed a few more days to explore. Broome especially has built up a lot more since I was last here. In some ways for the worse as it is more touristy. It's been really great returning to Port Hedland - it is a surprise that it is really virbrant! This weekend, I have attended the (Hedland) art awards and it's a great example of how art and culture can bring people together." Erin
"I came here for work and family opportunities. I have two boys, 15 and 16, in high school. They're going to apprenticeships. Then the plan is to move back to the mid-west. Port Hedland has done a lot of work, there are parks and foreshore, bbqs, great fishing! It's more accessible than Karratha. I've been in Port Hedland for one year. There is still a lot of FIFO, they don't leave the camps and interact and spend dollars in town. Maybe we need to cut FIFO, build more community projects.There's not a lot for youth. You can't fish in the port anymore but locals know the great spots. People think not a lot is happening here, but now there is a lot more to offer. It's surprising as the local community is friendly, but we need more advertising of events on." Stephen