The legacy of asbestos mining in WA’s far north, 1950-1957

Nestled in the Pilbara region, the far north mining town of Wittenoom where these postmarks were stamped has a dark past.

For three decades, Wittenoom thrived as a national supplier of blue asbestos. Discovered in the area by Lang Hancock in the 1930s, the mineral was prized for its heat resistance and durability; it was used extensively in construction worldwide. In post-war Australia, houses clad in asbestos cement were a common sight, especially in remote areas like Wittenoom.

But despite its usefulness, researchers discovered the cancer-causing dangers of the mineral in the mid-1950s, around the same time as these letters were sent. By 1966, the Wittenoom mine had closed due to profitability issues, but the damage had already been done. Since then, more than 2,000 former mine workers and residents have died from asbestos-related diseases.

Today, the town has been abandoned. The government declared the area off-limits in 2007 and the final resident moved out in 2023. Except for the occasional foolhardy visitor, the ghost town of Wittenoom stands empty, the largest contaminated area in the southern hemisphere.