Roebourne is home to a talented art community here in the creative hub of Karratha. Many of the most talented Indigenous artists in the country are based in this small town.

Situated 30 km east of Karratha, the oldest town gazetted more than 150 years ago in 1886 between Geraldton and Darwin.

Numerous original stone buildings remain in the town. The redeveloped Victoria Hotel, or Ganalili Centre, provides a cultural experience for the community and visitors.

Attractions

Roebourne Art Group

Wangaba Roebourne Art Group Acknowledges the traditional land owners of the country, the Ngarluma People. The art group pay respects to the elders. Be it the Past, Present, and Emerging.

Yinjaa-Barni Art

The not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation Yinjaa-Barni Art is run and governed by an executive manager and an Aboriginal board of directors. Yinjaa-Barni is Yindjibarndi for 'staying together.'

Yinjaa-Barni Art is a group of collective Aboriginal artists who belong predominantly to the Yindjibarndi language group. The ancestral homelands of this group surround the Fortescue River and Millstream Tablelands.

Yinjaa-Barni artists, based in Roebourne, a small town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, create deeply personal works of collective memory, rendering the river systems, wildflowers, and landforms of the country onto canvas.

Old Roebourne Gaol

The Old Roebourne Gaol is today home to a Museum, the Roebourne Visitors Centre and the Roebourne Arts and Crafts Group. As you wander through the complex, take your time to reflect on the prisoners who lived within these walls. In the Museum, you will gain a glimpse of what life was like for Aboriginal Australians after white settlement, as well as an insight into the experiences of European and Asian settlers to the region.

Wing 1

The Visitors Wing is set up with tea and coffee facilities, tourist pamphlets, seating, photographs, and video of the Pilbara region.

Wing 2 Museum

Colonial History – photographs, artifacts and stories of the first station owners, miners and Roebourne residents.

Wing 3 Museum

Hidden Histories – discover a pictorial history of Aboriginal people in the Pilbara since white settlement, as well as a display of the experiences of indigenous and non-indigenous women in the region.

Wing 4

Roebourne Visitors Centre – friendly staff will assist you with information, tour bookings and directions. A wide selection of books and maps are available, as well as souvenirs, cool drinks and snacks. A gold coin donation will give you entry to the Museum.

Rear Courtyard – contains a display of farming and mining equipment used in the early days and a display of Pilbara rocks and gemstones.

Harding River Dam

Explore parts of the dam on foot to see the native flora and fauna that inhabit the area and take advantage of the stunning scenic views.

Facilities at the dam recreation area include barbecues, toilets (including disabled), shade and a lawn area. Water from the Dam has a capacity of 64 billion litres and supplies the towns of Dampier, Karratha, Roebourne, Wickham and Point Samson.

Millstream Chichester National Park

At Millstream Chichester National Park, immerse yourself in a landscape of water pools, escarpments, rolling hills, and tree-lined rivers. The area covers approximately 200,000 hectares around the heartland of the Yindjibarndi people, the Fortescue River. This lush oasis of palm-fringed rock pools and deep gorges starkly contrasts the surrounding landscape of rolling spinifex-covered hills and rocky escarpments.

Roebourne Heritage Trail

A 5 km or 8 km self-guided trail showing North West's most significant historical sites, including the Courthouse, Dalgety House, former Union Bank, and the Holy Trinity Church.

Ngurin Bush Tucker Trail

The Ngurin Bush Tucker Trail is a 2 km, grade 2 walking trail that starts from Jubilee Park. The Ngurin (Harding River) and surrounding vegetation are significant to the traditional owners of this land, the Ngarluma people. From May to September, most of the native plants on the trail are in season.

Mount Welcome Lookout

Mount Welcome's scenic lookout at the top offers views across the town, the coastal plains and the surrounding rugged hills. You can access Mount Welcome lookout via Water Tank Access Road. Great 180-degree views with multilingual signage outlining the township of Roebourne and the indigenous significance of Mt Welcome.

Take in the six silhouettes of Aboriginal men with spears in one hand and standing on one leg. These statues represent the Ngarluma people, each facing their own country.

The Ganalili Centre

The Ganalili Centre is Aboriginal-owned and operated in the historic Victoria Hotel building on Roe Street, Roebourne.

Explore the interactive cultural space while you're in the area and learn more about the history of the Yindjibarndi Country. The gallery space displays a beautiful, diverse array of artworks made by local Yindjibarndi artists. In contrast, you can find unique, high-quality merchandise in our gift shop. Things like homeware, clothing and gifts are available for purchase.

Ganalili also houses Roebourne's Visitor Centre, where you can find information about the town's heritage and surrounding areas.

You can find a lovely spot to picnic at the park at the back of the building. Food and drinks are available in the Ganalili Centre and nearby. There's also a space where you can refill your caravan's water supply!

Fun Facts

Distance from Perth: 1,563 km
Population: 975
Postcode: 6718
Founded: 1866