Balla Balla, Western Australia

{{Short description|Pastoral lease in Western Australia}}

{{Use Australian English|date=December 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Location map|Western Australia|label=Balla Balla

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|lat_deg=20|lat_min=47|lat_sec=52|lat_dir=S

|lon_deg=117|lon_min=48|lon_sec=15|lon_dir=E

|caption=Location in Western Australia}}

Balla Balla Station is a pastoral lease and cattle station located approximately {{convert|138|km|mi|0}} north of Karratha just off the North West Coastal Highway in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The station is also used for tourism purposes, with camping permitted, and renowned as being a good fishing location.{{cite web|url=http://www.pilbaracoast.com/balla-balla-self-drive-day-trip|title=Karratha Visitor Centre – Balla Balla|year= 2005 |accessdate=16 May 2012}}

There was once a townsite on the coastal side of the station; the town of Balla Balla, was an important port in the area. The waters could be treacherous, with the first recorded drowning occurring in 1898.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3192662 |title=Drowning at Balla Balla |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=15 January 1898 |accessdate=20 May 2012 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Following the expansion of the gold mines at Whim Creek and copper mines at Elgin Creek in 1897 the town requested that an area of {{convert|30000|acre|ha|0}} surrounding the townsite be set aside as a public reserve. The area included Balla Balla Pool, a permanent pool of freshwater, which could be used by stock. At this time 20 teams of workmen were employed in carting goods from the mines using in excess of 70 camels.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3184421 |title=Wants of Balla Balla |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=25 September 1897 |accessdate=20 May 2012 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

A cyclone struck the town in 1898 destroying most of the buildings in the town. The post office, blacksmith, Chicago Hotel and woolshed were completely destroyed. The Balla Balla Hotel was partly deroofed and boats were sunk. Two people died from flying debris.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3199668 |title=The Hurricane in the North-west. |newspaper=The West Australian |location=Perth |date=13 April 1898 |accessdate=1 May 2014 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

In 1902 a storm swept across the town, dumping a large amount of rain, and the sea level rose to be almost level with the town.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37795624 |title=Balla Balla almost submerged |newspaper=Western Mail |location=Perth |date=22 February 1902 |accessdate=20 May 2012 |page=21 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} Neighbouring Sherlock Station received about {{convert|8|in|mm|sigfig=1|order=flip}} in the deluge. The port area was severely damaged with the sand ridges being washed away leaving the rails exposed.

A marine survey was conducted around the harbour area 1907 by Captain Airey, the master of the steamer Penguin. Besides the survey an estimate of the cost of building a causeway between the mainland at Balla Balla and Depuch Island was also to be prepared.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14874887 |title=Port of Balla Balla |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |location=New South Wales |date=22 August 1907 |accessdate=20 May 2012 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

A cyclone in 1912 caused havoc in the port, sinking many vessels and drowning several men. Crown of England, Enterprise and Clyo were all sunk. The pearling fleet sought refuge in Balla Balla Creek and were unscathed.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79896519 |title=News from Balla Balla |newspaper=The Daily News |location=Perth |date=23 March 1912 |accessdate=20 May 2012 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} {{ship|SS|Koombana}}, which was sailing through the area, was also listed as missing.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11663368 |title=Balla Balla Cyclone S.S. Koombana overdue |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=26 March 1912 |accessdate=20 May 2012 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

The area is rich in minerals, particularly gold, and several mines operated in the vicinity. The leases pegged by a Mr Breen prior to 1926 were described by the prospector as "the best he had seen in the Nor' West".{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34399712 |title=Balla Balla Syndicate |newspaper=Western Argus |location=Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |date=20 July 1926 |accessdate=20 May 2012 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} The Balla Balla Syndicate, an Adelaide base group of investors, sent Breen back to the area in 1926 with the equipment to build a 10-head battery to develop the mine.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34403151 |title=Balla Balla Syndicate. |newspaper=Western Argus |location=Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |date=5 October 1926 |accessdate=20 May 2012 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}