Published on Friday, 26 June 2026 at 12:46:52 PM
The Town of Port Hedland has made the difficult decision to remove the Black Rock Stakes Sculpture in Wedge Street due to safety concerns.
At Wednesday night’s Ordinary Council Meeting, Elected Members endorsed dismantling and removing the artwork from the site behind the Port Hedland Visitor Centre.
Recent inspections confirmed its structural integrity had deteriorated and become an unacceptable safety risk.
Mayor Jacinta Behrend said it was always a difficult decision to remove artwork which was historically significant.
“We want to ensure public artwork is preserved, however on this occasion public safety has to take priority,” Mayor Behrend said.
“Preserving Hedland’s history is a priority for this Council, which is why we passed an amended motion that reflects the importance of maintaining historically significant sites.”
The sculpture is a tribute to the Black Rock Stakes wheelbarrow race which was held as a charity event between 1971–2010.
Teams of racers would alternate pushing a wheelbarrow full of iron ore 119km from Goldsworthy to Port Hedland.
The Town has so far been unable to locate the original artist or obtain sufficient information about the sculptures construction to determine whether it can be safely repaired or restored.
We remain committed to identifying and contacting the original artist and welcome any information from community members that may assist.
Should replacement ultimately be required, the Town will undertake community consultation to help shape a new piece that appropriately reflects the history and significance of the Black Rock Stakes, ensuring this important story continues to be shared with future generations.
Back to All News