Onslow Western Australia
A scenic sunny coastal town with a rich history, where the sun rises and sets over water.
At a Glance
Onslow, located at the Beadon Bay near the mouth of the Ashburton River, is the oldest town in the Ashburton Shire with a rich history. The town is an attractive site for those who loves nature and history. The Old Onslow ruins showcase the life of the people before the townsite was moved, with historic buildings such as the old gaol.
Onslow also offers beautiful beaches where water activities can be done. Due to the unique position of Onslow, you can enjoy seeing the sun rises from the waters and setting back into the waters on the sunrise and sunset beaches. Like fishing? There are multiple locations in Onslow for you to indulge yourself and get some great catches.
Where is Onslow?
Onslow is approximately 1,386 kilometres north of Perth.
Onslow was originally planned as a town to serve the nearby port at the mouth of the Ashburton River. It is situated on the coast on a very unique way, making it one of the few places in WA where the sun rises and sets over water. One of the best ways to get to Moore River is to hire a car from Perth Airport or flying to the Onslow Airport.
Things to see in Onslow
Old Onslow
If you venture south from the town of Onslow along the Onslow Heritage Trail, you will find the ruins of the original townsite of Onslow located by the mouth of the Ashburton River. The original townsite was Onslow came into being in 1883, and was later relocated due to the silting of the river after multiple cyclones. Here, you will be able to catch a glimpse of life in the past, with the historic remains of the courthouse, the gaol as well as the police station visible.
Mackerel Islands
The Mackerel Islands, just 22km off the coast of Onslow is a very good place to visit while you are there. The island group consists of ten islands, with a resort located on the extremely scenic main island, Thevenard, which is a coral atoll. There you can truly escape from life’s bustle and surround yourself with magnificent natural marine sights.
Beaches
Onslow is located on a small headland, with the Beadon Bay on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other. There are two main beaches in Onslow where activities such as fishing, swimming and snorkelling are prominent. The Sunrise Beach, so named because the sun rises from this side, is a perfect place for early risers to enjoy the beautiful sunrise. Its counterpart the Sunset Beach, offers a shaded picnic area for you to wait for the incredibly magnificent sunset.
Onslow Salt
Onslow is the site of a huge salt field that spans 90 square kilometers, where sunwater is pumped for approximately 18 hours per day. The plant produces a whopping 2.5 million tons of salt each year, and has its own storage facilities and an iconic photograph-worthy 1.3 kilometer long steel jetty. A huge stockpile of glistering white salt can be seen at the plant from a distance.
What's the weather like?
Since its inception, Onslow has endured through difficult weather. There had been records of intense summer heat waves as well as cyclones in the area. In fact, the original site of Onslow was so prone to repeated cyclone attacks that they had to relocate the jetty to its current site. In Summer (December to February), the average maximum temperature is 35°C with an average minimum temperature of 23°C. In Winter (June to August), the average maximum temperature is 25°C with an average minimum temperature of 12°C.
Get to know Onslow's history
Onslow, located at the mouth of the Ashburton River was first built as a station to export wool from the sheep stations in Pilbara. The town was named after the Chief Justice of Western Australia at the time, Sir Alexander Onslow. A large jetty was constructed there back then on the original site of the town, but repeated cyclone damage led to the relocation of the town, with a new townsite built up 18 kilometres again.
Onslow was actively involved in World War II as it acted as a base for the Navy, it was also the site of a bombing run by the Japanese. After the war, Onslow continued to be used by the Navy to conduct tests on the nearby islands. Today, Onslow acts as a jumping point for tourists visiting the Coral Coast, with activities such as scuba diving available off the coast.
At a Glance
Onslow, located at the Beadon Bay near the mouth of the Ashburton River, is the oldest town in the Ashburton Shire with a rich history. The town is an attractive site for those who loves nature and history. The Old Onslow ruins showcase the life of the people before the townsite was moved, with historic buildings such as the old gaol.
Onslow also offers beautiful beaches where water activities can be done. Due to the unique position of Onslow, you can enjoy seeing the sun rises from the waters and setting back into the waters on the sunrise and sunset beaches. Like fishing? There are multiple locations in Onslow for you to indulge yourself and get some great catches.
Where is Onslow?
Onslow is approximately 1,386 kilometres north of Perth.
Onslow was originally planned as a town to serve the nearby port at the mouth of the Ashburton River. It is situated on the coast on a very unique way, making it one of the few places in WA where the sun rises and sets over water. One of the best ways to get to Moore River is to hire a car from Perth Airport.
Things to see in Onslow
Old Onslow
If you venture south from the town of Onslow along the Onslow Heritage Trail, you will find the ruins of the original townsite of Onslow located by the mouth of the Ashburton River. The original townsite was Onslow came into being in 1883, and was later relocated due to the silting of the river after multiple cyclones. Here, you will be able to catch a glimpse of life in the past, with the historic remains of the courthouse, the gaol as well as the police station visible.
Mackerel Islands
The Mackerel Islands, just 22km off the coast of Onslow is a very good place to visit while you are there. The island group consists of ten islands, with a resort located on the extremely scenic main island, Thevenard, which is a coral atoll. There you can truly escape from life’s bustle and surround yourself with magnificent natural marine sights.
Beaches
Onslow is located on a small headland, with the Beadon Bay on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other. There are two main beaches in Onslow where activities such as fishing, swimming and snorkelling are prominent. The Sunrise Beach, so named because the sun rises from this side, is a perfect place for early risers to enjoy the beautiful sunrise. Its counterpart the Sunset Beach, offers a shaded picnic area for you to wait for the incredibly magnificent sunset.
Onslow Salt
Onslow is the site of a huge salt field that spans 90 square kilometers, where sunwater is pumped for approximately 18 hours per day. The plant produces a whopping 2.5 million tons of salt each year, and has its own storage facilities and an iconic photograph-worthy 1.3 kilometer long steel jetty. A huge stockpile of glistering white salt can be seen at the plant from a distance.
What's the weather like?
Since its inception, Onslow has endured through difficult weather. There had been records of intense summer heat waves as well as cyclones in the area. In fact, the original site of Onslow was so prone to repeated cyclone attacks that they had to relocate the jetty to its current site. In Summer (December to February), the average maximum temperature is 35°C with an average minimum temperature of 23°C. In Winter (June to August), the average maximum temperature is 25°C with an average minimum temperature of 12°C.
Get to know Onslow's history
Onslow, located at the mouth of the Ashburton River was first built as a station to export wool from the sheep stations in Pilbara. The town was named after the Chief Justice of Western Australia at the time, Sir Alexander Onslow. A large jetty was constructed there back then on the original site of the town, but repeated cyclone damage led to the relocation of the town, with a new townsite built up 18 kilometres again.
Onslow was actively involved in World War II as it acted as a base for the Navy, it was also the site of a bombing run by the Japanese. After the war, Onslow continued to be used by the Navy to conduct tests on the nearby islands. Today, Onslow acts as a jumping point for tourists visiting the Coral Coast, with activities such as scuba diving available off the coast.