North West Australia

Definitions

The North-West Land Division, created by legislation in 1887, includes only the western Pilbara, northern Gascoyne and part of the Mid West, but not the Kimberley, thereby excluding many areas usually encompassed by popular definitions.

Western Australian law, state government policy and popular culture sometimes creates exceptions for the area "north of the 26th parallel" (latitude 26° south). For instance, a Western Australian Government Tourist Bureau publication, The North West of Western Australia (1963), both uses the 26th parallel as a boundary and delineates smaller regions: the Gascoyne, the "De Grey and Fortescue", the Kimberley and the "Dry Interior".

Two legislated regions of Western Australia, the Pilbara and Kimberley, may be considered to comprise an alternate, popular definition. The Gascoyne is often added to these, although it may also be considered as comprising a part of the "Greater Mid West".

During the 1960s, a pamphlet published by the State Government stated: "The region is bounded in the west by the Indian Ocean, in the east by the Central Division, in the north-east by the Pilbara, and in the south by the Northern Agricultural Division. It covers and area of 75731 sqmi and has a population of about 10,000."

It has frequently been proposed that the region, alone or amalgamated with the Northern Territory, should form a new Australian state. The most recent proponent of such a scheme was Federal MP Bob Katter, who suggested that such a state should be called "North Western Australia".

Western Australian north west frontier

The north west has been often designated as a "frontier", or even the "last frontier" in Western Australian history, and in air transport in the 1920s and 1930s the region was designated as such.

Cyclone zone

The region has also acquired a reputation as being vulnerable to regular and devastating cyclones, with impact on mineral and oil operations.

Church dioceses

The Anglican and Catholic churches have Geraldton as the base for the north west, the Anglican church used the North West name, while the Catholic diocese is known by the name of the town.

Notes

References

1. "Visit Western Australia Online {{!}} Visit WA".
2. Western Australian Government Tourist Bureau, 1963, ''The North West of Western Australia'', Government of Western Australia, Perth, pp12–3.
3. Department of Industrial Development, 1970[?], ''The North West: Western Australia.'' Perth, Dept. of Industrial Development.
4. [http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/broome-should-be-part-of-northern-territory-independent-mp-bob-katter-says/story-e6frea8c-1225910580806 Broome should be part of Northern Territory, independent MP Bob Katter says] ''[[The Australian]]'', published: 27 August 2010, retrieved: 27 August 2010
5. (1980). "Cyclone coasts : Australia's north-west frontier". Rigby.
6. (1985). "The North-west aerial frontier, 1919-1934 : some men, women and flying machines seen in north-west Australia in the pioneering period : international flights, round-Australia flights, and the completion of the Darwin air link to the eastern states". Boolarong Publications.
7. Symposium on the Impact of Tropical Cyclones on Oil and Mineral Development in North-west Australia (1975 : Perth, W.A.). (1976). "Proceedings of the Symposium on the Impact of Tropical Cyclones on Oil and Mineral Development in North-west Australia". Aust. Govt. Pub. Service.
8. (1985). "Spinifex saints : the Diocese of North West Australia, 1910-1985". Western Mount Publications.
9. "Directory". The Diocese.
10. "Celebrating a centenary of Christian ministry : an historical snapshot of the Diocese of North West Australia, 1910-2010". Anglican Diocese of North West Australia.
11. "Home".