Port Hedland owes its unique identity due to its rich heritage and culture, in particular its diverse Indigenous and multi-cultural heritage. Port Hedland has an active arts and cultural community across all artforms. The town is home to a growing number of practicing visual artists, musicians, dancers and theatre artists.

The Town of Port Hedland has developed major cultural facilities, including the Matt Dann Cultural Centre, and the Don Rhodes Mining Museum. The Council supports organizations and individuals initiating and managing their own cultural affairs. Council has worked in partnership with community organizations to develop the Dalgety House Museum and the Courthouse Arts Centre and Gallery.

Town of Port Hedland Cultural Plan

The Town of Port Hedland is keen to analyse its cultural resources, identify gaps and clarify its ongoing commitments to the development of arts and culture in our community.

"A lot of people work here, but reckon they 'live' somewhere else. Well, even though I may not be here forever, this is the place I call home right now: I care about it, and I want it to be a good place for me and my kids."

The Cultural Plan set out to answer the questions: "What can be done to enable people to live richer lives in Port Hedland?" In doing so it has considered:

• The Place
• The Lifestyle and Culture
• The Resources

The strategy offers a framework for transforming the enormous human, physical and economic potential of Port Hedland into place and a community that enables people to lead rich, satisfying and creative lives – a place to call home.

The Objectives of the Cultural Plan:

• Co-ordination and integration of cultural groups and activities
• Availability of appropriate, high quality facilities to ensure that people can enjoy optimum leisure, entertainment and creativity
• A business and commercial sector committed to a high quality for its customers and employees
• Residents linked into strong, stable, supportive and creative communities and social networks
• Residents discovering and enjoying a unique natural and urban environment which offers both a strong sense of place (including maintenance of heritage) and accessible pockets of beauty and retreat.

Town of Port Hedland Art Collection

The town owns a fascinating art collection that includes works acquired over many years through the Port Hedland Art Award. The focus of the collection is local Pilbara artists; the collection is housed at the civic center and other Council buildings. The Town of Port Hedland Art Collection Management and Acquisition provides a blueprint for the development and display of the collection.

For a copy of Policy 6/005 see below

Artwork in Public Places

Public Art is defined in the broadest sense as artistic works or activities created for, located in, or developed as part of a public facility or space. Public Art includes any planning or conceptual contribution of an artist to the design of public facilities and spaces.

The Town of Port Hedland Public Art Policy encourages the creation of public art, which adds to our town’s unique character and heritage. Important to this policy is the opportunity of local artists to be involved in public art projects as either the lead artist or through mentoring by experience art practitioners.

For a copy of the Public Art Policy (Policy 7/002) see below

Community Banners

Wedge Street Port Hedland
Throssel Road South Hedland

The community banners displayed on the Council banner poles provide a colourful addition to the streetscape. Banners are rotated quarterly and Council is always looking for the opportunity to work with the community on developing new banners for these sites.

There are ten poles in Port Hedland and 12 in South Hedland.
Banner size: Banner size -1650mm x 450mm

Federation Footpath

Anderson Street
Port Hedland

Artists, Kathy Donnelly and Rosalind Dann.

This walk, located around Dalgety House Museum, depicts 100 years of Federation in Port Hedland. During 2000 two local artists worked with year seven children to research key events that occurred in Port Hedland over the last 100 years.

The path depicts the social and economic events important to our community from the 1900’s to 2000. Images such as the Indigenous people, the pearling and pastoral industries, the Afghan cameleers, the arrival of the telephone, the mosque, the Pilbara Music Festival and the HBI plant are included on the walk.

The artists created stencils based on their research and the artwork developed by the children. These were laid on a black footpath and sprayed with pindan coloured concrete to form the image.

Blackrock Stakes Sculpture

Port Hedland Tourist Bureau
Wedge Street
Port Hedland

Designed and fabricated by local artist Farid Ebrahim, the Blackrock Stakes Sculpture depicts a classic runner pushing his wheel burrow in this celebrated Pilbara event.

Every July the Blackrock Stakes race is run over 120km from the Whim Creek Hotel to Port Hedland. Teams of runners push a wheelbarrow, raising money for local community groups.

Cultural and Heritage Facilities

Matt Dann Cultural Centre

Courthouse Arts Centre and Gallery

Dalgety House Museum

Corner of Anderson and Wedge Street Port Hedland

Dalgety House as been fully restored as a living space.

• Audio and visual displays
• Recordings of personal memories
• North West Architecture

Port Hedland was established in 1896 as a port for the pastoral, pearling, gold and tin mining industries. Dalgety House was the Dalgety and Co. manager’s residence from 1903 to 1974.
What was the lifestyle of the Kariyarra people?
How did this change as non-Indigenous people settled the Pilbara?

Don Rhodes Mining and Transport Museum

Wilson Street Port Hedland

How was travel accomplished within the Pilbara last century?
The Don Rhodes Mining and Transport Museum tells the story of he road, rail and transport heritage of the East Pilbara. Sights to see include:

• The giant machines that opened up the Pilbara
• Converted Valentine Tank
• The Mt Newman Locomotive used to haul iron ore carts across the Pillar
• The Public Works department Crane that upgraded the Port Hedland harbour

Exhibits, interpretative and informative signage and maps tell this story. Seating and shade on site.

Old Port Hedland Cemetery

Sutherland Street Port Hedland

This cemetery, officially opened in 1912, provides a fascinating window on our past. Many Indigenous people are buried in the cemetery, along with identities that developed Port Hedland. Over forty people are buried in the Asian section. Many Japanese and Chinese people worked on the pearl luggers, as gold prospectors, or as cooks.

Set opposite the Port Hedland Community Park and the Indian Ocean, the Old Port Hedland Cemetery is a place to visit and to reflect upon times past.

Port Hedland Cultural and Heritage Trail

Commencing at the Port Hedland Tourist Bureau this trail includes glimpses of the town’s colourful past as well as present features.

Collect a Trail Brochure from the Tourist Bureau and take a leisurely stroll around down town Port Hedland Interpretative signage tells the story of heritage buildings, natural features and cultural sites. View the original medical staff quarters; learn about the harbour tunnel, the old Methodist Church and the port Tower and Tide indicator. A great way to learn about our colourful heritage.

Port Hedland Art Award

Held each year the award showcases the talents of Port Hedland, Pilbara and Western Australian Artists. Generous sponsorship from local business provides a rich prize pool.