We think of Weipa being on the Gulf of Carpentaria, but its adjacent waterways are actually river estuaries and Albatross Bay – which then opens onto the gulf proper.
Many of you will recall that Dutch Captain Jansz visited this area in 1606. (Grade 5 or so history). He apparently reported red cliffs hearabouts. Then Flinders in 1801 also noted red cliffs. Finally in 1953/4 a geologist came to visit ( by that time there was a Presbyterian mission and cattle properties) and he reported bauxite. It took a few years but in the late 1950s, Comalco had set up, initially sending the ore to Bell Bay in Tasmania for processing. Rio Tinto took over early this century and own the town and a considerable swathe of land roundabout. The story is that there is enough ore for another 60-70 years and huge tonnage is going out each year. Half to China, half to Gladstone for the next stage in processing it to alumina. Then there is further processing to aluminium. Some of that is still Bell Bay. Some to NZ. Not sure about the rest. There was some surprise when we arrived last night that there were no ships at the wharf. But two there this morning so the pilot launch must have been busy in the interim.
The bauxite is apparently found just a metre or so below land surface level, and the lode might be one to several metres deep. So where mining has occurred the topsoil has been piled up and the land laid bare. Later it is being rehabilitated. It is then trucked to near the wharves, stockpiled, loaded onto the conveyor system which takes it under the road and the overhead to be dropped into the waiting ship. Careful so the ship isn’t overloaded. Do t want the ship going aground at low tide.
travellingkathy 