Esperance, Western Australia#Lead and nickel contamination

European history of the region dates back to 1627 when the Dutch vessel Gulden Zeepaert, skippered by François Thijssen, passed through waters off the Esperance coast and continued across the Great Australian Bight.{{cite web|url=http://www.nma.gov.au/collections/collection_interactives/european_voyages/european_voyages_to_the_australian_continent/timeline#pageindex2|title=European voyages to the Australian continent – Timeline|access-date=14 October 2015|publisher=National Museum of Australia|archive-date=28 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328131046/http://www.nma.gov.au/collections/collection_interactives/european_voyages/european_voyages_to_the_australian_continent/timeline#pageindex2|url-status=dead}}

French explorers are credited with making the first landfall near the present day town, naming it and other local landmarks while sheltering from a storm in this area in 1792. The town itself was named after a French ship, the Espérance,{{cite web |url=http://www.australiantraveller.com/index.cfm?page_id=1414 |title=Escape to Esperance |work=Article in Australian Traveller Magazine |access-date=29 April 2008 |archive-date=2 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202133727/http://www.australiantraveller.com/index.cfm?page_id=1414 |url-status=dead }} commanded by Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec. {{langx |fr|Espérance |label=none}} is French for "hope".

In 1802, British navigator Matthew Flinders sailed the Bay of Isles, discovering and naming places such as Lucky Bay and Thistle Cove. Whalers, sealers and pirates followed, as did pastoralists and miners, keen to exploit the free land and cash in on the gold boom in the gold fields to the north.

The first European settlement of the Esperance townsite area was by the Dempsters, a pioneer family of Scottish descent, in the 1860s.{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |first= Wendy |last= Birman |title= Dempster, Andrew (1843–1909) |id2=dempster-andrew-3881 }} First published in hardcopy in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 4, (MUP), 1972 The Dempster brothers – Charles, Edward, Andrew and James – were granted {{convert|304000|acre|order=flip}} of land in the area, first settling in 1864. They initially brought sheep, cattle and horses overland from Northam, but in 1866 they shipped stock to the Esperance area from South Australia. They built Esperance's first landing, but only one ship made the Adelaide to Esperance voyage in the first year.{{cite web |url=http://www.esperanceport.com.au/downloads/information/Information%20Sheet.pdf |title=Esperance Port 1864-Today |publisher=esperanceport.com.au |access-date=18 May 2017 |archive-date=2 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202231108/http://www.esperanceport.com.au/downloads/information/Information%20Sheet.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Once other settlers started taking up land on the Esperance coastal plain, a small settlement developed, serving as an important link in the Overland Telegraph between Albany and Eucla.{{cite web |url=http://www.esperanceport.com.au/downloads/information/Information%20Sheet.pdf |title=Esperance Port 1864-Today |publisher=esperanceport.com.au |access-date=18 May 2017 |archive-date=2 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202231108/http://www.esperanceport.com.au/downloads/information/Information%20Sheet.pdf |url-status=dead }} A telegraph station was opened in 1876, although the formal gazettal of the townsite did not occur until 1893.Western Australian Government Gazette, file 1339/93, 14 December 1893, p.1241.

The town jetty was also built through the 1890s, following the discovery of gold in the eastern goldfields region. At this point, Esperance became the "gateway to the Goldfields."{{cite web |url=http://www.esperanceport.com.au/downloads/information/Information%20Sheet.pdf |title=Esperance Port 1864-Today |publisher=esperanceport.com.au |access-date=18 May 2017 |archive-date=2 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202231108/http://www.esperanceport.com.au/downloads/information/Information%20Sheet.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The population of the town was 985 (623 males and 362 females) in 1898.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33153441 |title=Population of Western Australia. |newspaper=Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 – 1954) |location=Perth, WA |date=22 April 1898 |access-date=31 May 2012 |page=23 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

After visiting the town in 1898, Western Australian Premier John Forrest pledged to construct a railway line between Esperance and the Goldfields. However, due to a perceived threat that Adelaide merchants would take Goldfields trade away from Fremantle merchants via the Esperance port, Norseman was connected by rail to the Goldfields and Fremantle, but the line was not extended to Esperance.{{cite web |url=http://www.esperanceport.com.au/downloads/information/Information%20Sheet.pdf |title=Esperance Port 1864-Today |publisher=esperanceport.com.au |access-date=18 May 2017 |archive-date=2 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202231108/http://www.esperanceport.com.au/downloads/information/Information%20Sheet.pdf |url-status=dead }} A railway line between Coolgardie and Esperance was eventually completed in 1927.

The Mallee area approximately {{convert|100|km|-1|abbr=on}} north of the town began grain production in the 1920s, and by 1935 the construction of a second jetty, tankers jetty, was completed.{{cite web |url=http://www.esperanceport.com.au/profile-history.asp |title=History and development of Esperance Port |publisher=esperanceport.com.au |access-date=5 August 2010 |archive-date=18 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218130848/http://esperanceport.com.au/profile-history.asp |url-status=dead }} After a rail link had been established between Salmon Gums and the Esperance port in 1925, the wheat harvest rose from {{convert|1471|LT|t|order=flip}} that year to {{convert|4376|LT|t|order=flip}} in 1929 and more than {{convert|15,608|LT|t|order=flip}} two years later.{{cite web |url=http://www.esperanceport.com.au/downloads/information/Information%20Sheet.pdf |title=Esperance Port 1864-Today |publisher=esperanceport.com.au |access-date=18 May 2017 |archive-date=2 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202231108/http://www.esperanceport.com.au/downloads/information/Information%20Sheet.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Large-scale agriculture was introduced to the Esperance sand plain by an American syndicate, in partnership with the state government, in the 1960s following the discovery that adding superphosphate fertilisers containing trace elements to the poor soils made them suitable for cropping and pastoral activity.{{cite web |url= http://www.visitesperance.com/pages/history/ |work= Visit Esperance |title= History |access-date= 5 August 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100812080515/http://www.visitesperance.com/pages/history/ |archive-date= 12 August 2010 |url-status= dead }} Despite early difficulties, the project eventually became a success and large areas of land were cleared during this time.{{cite web |url=http://www.rivercare.southcoastwa.org.au/infodata/esperancec/ee/ee.html |publisher= South Coast rivercare |title= Waterways east of Esperance |access-date=5 August 2010}}

The population of the town in 1968 was approximately 2,700.{{cite web|url=https://d28rz98at9flks.cloudfront.net/12218/Rec1968_106.pdf|title=Government Members Mining and National Development Committees Fact Finding Tour July 21st–28th 1968|year=1968|access-date=3 September 2016|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia}}

In 1979, pieces of the space station Skylab crashed onto Esperance after the craft broke up over the Indian Ocean. The municipality fined the United States $400 for littering.In 2004, the History Channel documentary "History Rocks" stated, in an episode covering major events of 1979, that this fine had not been paid. The fine was paid in April 2009, when radio show host Scott Barley of Highway Radio raised the funds from his morning show listeners, and paid the fine on behalf of NASA.{{cite web|first=Hannah |last=Siemer |title=Littering fine paid |url=http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/news/local/news/general/littering-fine-paid/1488319.aspx?storypage=1 |publisher=The Esperance Express |date=17 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722025053/http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/news/local/news/general/littering-fine-paid/1488319.aspx?storypage=1 |archive-date=22 July 2012 }} Skylab's demise was an international media event, with merchandising, wagering on time and place of re-entry, and nightly news reports. The San Francisco Examiner offered a $10,000 prize for the first piece of Skylab to be delivered to their offices. Seventeen-year-old Stan Thornton scooped a few pieces of Skylab off the roof of his home in Esperance, caught the first flight to San Francisco, and collected the prize.{{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/news/spacestation/esperance_mir_010320.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208140746/http://www.space.com/news/spacestation/esperance_mir_010320.html |archive-date=8 December 2010 |work= Space.com |title= Australians Take Mir Deorbit Risks in Stride |access-date=26 November 2013}}

On 14 February 1991, the bulk carrier Sanko Harvest sank off Esperance, leaking {{convert|700|t|e6lbs|abbr=off}} of bunker oil and {{convert|30,000|t|e6lbs|abbr=off}} of fertiliser into the surrounding waters near the Recherche Archipelago; the wreck later became a marine sanctuary and dive site.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-14/locals-remember-sanko-harvest-oil-spill-on-30th-anniversary/13152288|title=Sanko Harvest oil spill off coast of Esperance remembered 30 years on|work=ABC News|date=14 February 2021|first=Emily|last=Smith|access-date=14 February 2021}}

In January 2007 Esperance experienced a storm with wind gusts of up to {{convert|110|km/h|0|abbr=on}} which brought {{convert|155|mm|0|abbr=on}} of rainfall within 24 hours, causing significant flooding. More than 100 homes were damaged, several boats were destroyed, trees were felled, {{convert|35|m|0|abbr=on}} of bridge on the South Coast Highway, (the main road linking Esperance to Perth), was washed away, and power was cut from thousands of homes. The Western Australian Government declared the area a "natural disaster zone".{{cite news

|title=Esperance declared natural disaster area |work=ABC News|date=8 January 2007

|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-01-08/esperance-declared-natural-disaster-area/2168274 |access-date=25 November 2015 }} At least 37,000 sheep were killed in the storm.{{cite news |title=Esperance area storm kills 37,000 sheep |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-01-15/esperance-area-storm-kills-37000-sheep/2172662 |access-date=25 November 2015 |work=ABC News|date=15 January 2007}}

Esperance experiences a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csb) with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. It is subject to wide variations in the weather, from hot summer days when northerly winds arrive from the interior of the state, to cold, wet winter days with southerly winds from the Great Southern Ocean. Annually, the town has 95.5 clear days.

{{Weather box

|location = Esperance (1991–2020 averages, 1969–2022 extremes)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high C = 46.9

|Feb record high C = 46.7

|Mar record high C = 44.0

|Apr record high C = 40.1

|May record high C = 34.5

|Jun record high C = 27.7

|Jul record high C = 27.6

|Aug record high C = 32.1

|Sep record high C = 34.9

|Oct record high C = 40.9

|Nov record high C = 42.7

|Dec record high C = 45.3

|year record high C = 46.9

|Jan high C = 26.2

|Feb high C = 26.0

|Mar high C = 25.1

|Apr high C = 23.4

|May high C = 20.7

|Jun high C = 18.3

|Jul high C = 17.4

|Aug high C = 18.2

|Sep high C = 19.5

|Oct high C = 21.4

|Nov high C = 23.3

|Dec high C = 24.6

|year high C = 22.0

|Jan low C = 15.9

|Feb low C = 16.4

|Mar low C = 15.3

|Apr low C = 13.5

|May low C = 11.2

|Jun low C = 9.3

|Jul low C = 8.5

|Aug low C = 8.8

|Sep low C = 9.6

|Oct low C = 11.1

|Nov low C = 12.9

|Dec low C = 14.5

|year low C = 12.2

|Jan record low C = 8.3

|Feb record low C = 8.0

|Mar record low C = 7.4

|Apr record low C = 5.5

|May record low C = 2.9

|Jun record low C = 2.2

|Jul record low C = 1.4

|Aug record low C = 2.5

|Sep record low C = 2.7

|Oct record low C = 3.6

|Nov record low C = 4.9

|Dec record low C = 6.6

|year record low C = 1.4

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 34.1

|Feb precipitation mm = 25.3

|Mar precipitation mm = 34.0

|Apr precipitation mm = 39.5

|May precipitation mm = 63.1

|Jun precipitation mm = 72.8

|Jul precipitation mm = 91.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 86.3

|Sep precipitation mm = 66.6

|Oct precipitation mm = 43.5

|Nov precipitation mm = 34.5

|Dec precipitation mm = 22.0

|year precipitation mm = 615.2

|Jan precipitation days = 6.4

|Feb precipitation days = 5.9

|Mar precipitation days = 8.9

|Apr precipitation days = 9.6

|May precipitation days = 13.0

|Jun precipitation days = 15.5

|Jul precipitation days = 16.4

|Aug precipitation days = 15.9

|Sep precipitation days = 14.3

|Oct precipitation days = 10.8

|Nov precipitation days = 9.2

|Dec precipitation days = 7.0

|year precipitation days = 132.9

|unit precipitation days = 0.2mm

|humidity colour= green

|Jan afthumidity = 57

|Feb afthumidity = 57

|Mar afthumidity = 57

|Apr afthumidity = 58

|May afthumidity = 57

|Jun afthumidity = 59

|Jul afthumidity = 59

|Aug afthumidity = 56

|Sep afthumidity = 57

|Oct afthumidity = 56

|Nov afthumidity = 57

|Dec afthumidity = 57

|year humidity = 57

|source = Bureau of Meteorology, Esperance (1991–2020){{cite web |url = http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=009789&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal

|title= Esperance 1991–2020 averages |publisher= Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=8 May 2022 }}

|source 2 = Bureau of Meteorology, Esperance (all years){{cite web |url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_009789_All.shtml

|title = Esperance all years

|publisher = Bureau of Meteorology

|access-date = 8 May 2022}}

}}

File:Esperance WA 1.jpg

Esperance has the only port in the south-east of Western Australia{{snd}}the Esperance Port Authority completed an A$54 million upgrade in 2002. The upgrade made the port one of the deepest in southern Australia, capable of handling Cape-class vessels of up to {{convert|180,000|t|e6lbs|abbr=off}}, and fully loaded Panamax-class vessels of up to {{convert|75,000|t|e6lbs|abbr=off}}.

Exports for the year ending June 2005 were {{convert|7,694,155|t|e9lbs|abbr=off}}, including {{convert|1.8|e6t|e9lbs|0|abbr=off}} of grain, and {{convert|5.5|e6t|e9lbs|abbr=off}} of iron ore which is railed from Koolyanobbing.

In 2007, the deaths of thousands of wild birds alerted residents to a toxicity hazard which was found to be the unsafe transport by truck and rail of lead ore from Wiluna for export by ship. When elevated levels of lead were measured in a number of adults and children, as well as in water tanks, a multimillion-dollar cleanup was paid for by the state government. The miner, Magellan Metals, was banned from exporting lead through the port.{{cite web |last=Taylor |first= Paige |title= Dead birds found near lead town |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/dead-birds-found-near-lead-town/story-e6frg6pf-1111114889649 |work= The Australian |date= 16 November 2007}}

A parliamentary inquiry presented its report in November 2007.[http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/3484/1729/1/5/ Parliamentary Inquiry Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319004845/http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/3484/1729/1/5/ |date=19 March 2011 }}, November 2007, www.dec.wa.gov.au Before long, additional concerns were raised about pollution caused by nickel dust escaping from exported ore.{{cite web |last=Crisp |first=M |url=http://www.lead.org.au/fs/fst39_English.html |title=Esperance parliamentary inquiry follow-up factsheet: Where to from Here? |publisher=Summary by the Lead Group Inc |access-date=13 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203031329/http://www.lead.org.au/fs/fst39_English.html |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead }} In October 2008, the Esperance Port Authority banned the export of nickel after emission targets were exceeded twice, but the ban, which threatened Western Australia's $8 billion nickel industry, was overturned by the newly elected Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett.{{cite news |last= Towie |first= N |url= http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24880642-2761,00.html |title= No limit on nickel emissions |work=PerthNow (Perth Sunday Times) |date=16 January 2009}}

File:Castletown E - Beach Chaplin 3.jpg

Near the town itself are numerous beaches, offering surfing, scuba diving, and swimming. Also nearby are a number of salt lakes, including Pink Lake which, despite its name, is rarely pink in colour.

There are five major national parks near the town. A major nearby tourist attraction, 20 minutes away from the town centre, is the Cape Le Grand National Park, which offers a picturesque coast of largely granite terrain and sheltered white sand beaches. The park is a popular spot for recreational fishing, as well as four wheel drive enthusiasts and hikers.

In October 2020, a surfer who was a member of the local community in Esperance was killed by a shark at Wylie Bay near the town.Eliza Borrello and Emily Smith, '[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-11/search-suspended-for-esperance-man-attacked-by-shark/12752810 Search suspended after shark attacks Esperance man Andrew Sharpe'], ABC News, 11 October 2020.

Cooper Reef is a purpose-built artificial reef located approximately five kilometres from the Bandy Creek Boat Harbour. Named after its driving force, Mr Graham Cooper,{{Cite news|last=Dietsch|first=Jake|date=2019-01-11|title=Esperance's Cooper Reef now a reality|work=The Esperance Express|url=https://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/5844858/cooper-reef-a-reality-after-years-of-community-dedication/|access-date=2021-11-11|archive-date=13 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113181126/https://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/5844858/cooper-reef-a-reality-after-years-of-community-dedication/|url-status=dead}} The reef was built to attract fish and enhance fish stocks, creating new fishing and recreation opportunities for tourists, anglers and local families.{{Cite web|last=Burton|first=Jesinta|date=2019-01-14|title=Reef to boost tourism: MacTiernan|url=https://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/5849136/reef-to-boost-tourism-mactiernan/|access-date=2021-11-11|website=The Esperance Express|language=en-AU|archive-date=13 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113181116/https://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/5849136/reef-to-boost-tourism-mactiernan/|url-status=dead}}

Esperance also has a number of wind turbines supplying electricity to the town.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ss/stories/s1423715.htm |title=Wind Power in Western Australia |work=Interview from ABC's Science Show |access-date=5 October 2008 |publisher=ABC's Science Show |date=30 July 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060113134506/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ss/stories/s1423715.htm |archive-date=13 January 2006 }} Esperance had the first electrical wind farm in Australia, built at Salmon Beach as a research facility in 1987. Esperance was also home to the Ten Mile Lagoon Wind Farm, established in 1993, and the Nine Mile Beach Wind Farm, commissioned in 2003.{{cite news|title=Doubts over future of Esperance wind farm as Synergy confirms no plan to replace turbines|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-27/locals-fear-esperance-wind-farm-will-not-be-replaced/5627136|work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=27 July 2014| first=Rebecca|last=Curtin}} Both sites were decommissioned in 2022, following several years of inactivity.{{cite news|title=Decommissioning by design: reusing and recycling wind farm infrastructure|url=https://www.energymagazine.com.au/decommissioning-by-design-reusing-and-recycling-wind-farm-infrastructure/#:~:text=The%20original%20project%20saw%20nine,in%20the%20state's%20energy%20grid.|work=energymagazine.com|date=11 June 2024| first=Steph|last=Barker}}

There are five primary schools in the region: Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, Castletown Primary School, Esperance Primary School, Nulsen Primary School and Esperance Christian Primary School. There are also two secondary schools: Esperance Senior High School and Esperance Anglican Community School.{{cite web |url=http://www.eacs.wa.edu.au/ |title=Esperance Anglican Community School Home Page |year=2011|access-date=4 May 2011}}

The Anglican school won an appeal in December 2009 against a State Government condition that limited it to grades 8–10; the school can now educate years 8–12.{{cite news |url=http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/news/local/news/general/anglican-school-condition-lifted/1702736.aspx?storypage=0 |title=Anglican School condition lifted |newspaper=Esperance Espress |location=Esperance, WA |date=11 December 2009 |access-date=4 May 2011 |page=4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220045609/http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/news/local/news/general/anglican-school-condition-lifted/1702736.aspx?storypage=0 |archive-date=20 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}

South Regional TAFE also has a campus in the town, with a major redevelopment completed in 2021.{{Cite web|last=Development|first=WA Department of Training and Workforce|title=Jobs and Skills WA|url=https://www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/news/new-18m-esperance-tafe-campus-officially-opened|access-date=2021-10-31|website=Jobs and Skills WA|language=en}}

Esperance is at the southern end of the Coolgardie–Esperance Highway and the eastern end of the South Coast Highway, both highways forming a part of Australia's Highway 1.

The town is connected by public transport to Perth, Albany and Kalgoorlie via Transwa coach services GE1, GE2, GE3 and GE4.

Regional Express Airlines has daily flights to/from Perth, arriving and departing from Esperance Airport. The Esperance-Perth route was previously serviced by Virgin Australia Regional Airlines and Skywest Airlines. The Esperance airport is also used for general aviation.

The Esperance branch railway is a standard gauge railway line from Kalgoorlie to Esperance, linking the region to the Trans-Australian Railway and the Eastern Goldfields Railway. This is a freight-only railway and no passenger services currently run.

Esperance District Football Association is the region's Australian rules football league.{{cite news |title=GFL stars to ply their trade in Esperance comp |url=https://www.kalminer.com.au/news/kalgoorlie-miner/goldfields-football-league-stars-to-ply-their-trade-in-esperance-district-football-association-season-opener-on-saturday-ng-b881587852z |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=Kalgoorlie Miner |date=24 June 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |title='These girls are out here for fair dinkum': Women's footy changes attitudes in the regions |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-11/womens-football-teams-breathe-new-life-into-esperance-clubs/100451206 |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=ABC News |date=11 September 2021 |language=en-AU}}

File:Esperance Indoor Stadium, January 2025 03.jpg

In 2020, a new $6 million indoor stadium was opened in Esperance, with Esperance Basketball Association being a major tenant.{{cite news |title='Better than AFL': NBA nets the dreams of country kids |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-04/last-dance-drives-hoop-dreams-for-country-kids-in-wa/12416300 |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=ABC News |date=3 July 2020 |language=en-AU}} The Esperance Indoor Stadium hosted an NBL1 West fixture between the Goldfields Giants and South West Slammers during the 2022 season.{{cite news |last1=Morabito |first1=Elena |title=Venue hire fees waived for Giants' Esperance fixtures |url=https://www.kalminer.com.au/news/regional/shire-of-esperance-waives-venue-hire-fees-for-giants-nbl1-clashes-c-7353145 |access-date=11 December 2024 |work=Kalgoorlie Miner |date=3 July 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Fris |first1=Justin |title=Slammers to face competition newbies on neutral turf |url=https://www.swtimes.com.au/sport/basketball/nbl1-west-2022-slammers-womens-team-face-gruelling-road-trip-to-esperance--c-7425675 |access-date=11 December 2024 |work=South Western Times |date=6 July 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Fris |first1=Justin |title=More to life than basketball |url=https://www.swtimes.com.au/news/south-western-times/nbl1-west-2022-unique-perspective-on-road-trip-losses-for-slammers-mens-coach-shane-goff--c-7507019 |access-date=11 December 2024 |work=South Western Times |date=13 July 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=NBL1 West 2022: Slammers women’s coach Robyn Vogel urges players to rise for Magic show |url=https://www.swtimes.com.au/news/south-western-times/nbl1-west-2022-slammers-womens-coach-robyn-vogel-urges-players-to-rise-for-magic-show--c-7496697 |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=South Western Times |date=13 July 2022 |language=en}} The stadium was closed in 2024 after mould was discovered following a burst pipe. The four-court stadium required removal of all of its sports flooring at an estimated cost of $250,000. All costs were expected to be recovered through insurance.{{cite news |title=Local Esperance company to replace Graham MacKenzie Stadium |url=https://www.kalminer.com.au/news/kalgoorlie-miner/local-company-to-replace-graham-mackenzie-stadium-separate-tender-called-for-esperance-indoor-stadium-repair-c-14859185 |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=Kalgoorlie Miner |date=2 June 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Grim discovery prompts immediate demolition at WA stadium |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/toxic-mould-prompts-immediate-demolition-of-remaining-sports-flooring-at-esperance-indoor-stadium-c-15568674 |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=PerthNow |date=2 August 2024 |language=en}}

Also in 2024, a local company was awarded the tender to design and build the replacement for the aged Graham MacKenzie Stadium, which was built in 1985.{{cite news |title=Old indoor stadium named in Mackenzie’s honour |url=https://www.kalminer.com.au/news/kalgoorlie-miner/esperance-basketball-stalwart-graham-mackenzie-recognised-with-old-indoor-stadium-named-in-his-honour-ng-b881614096z |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=Kalgoorlie Miner |date=21 July 2020 |language=en}}

A locally-printed lifestyle, entertainment and news magazine, Esperance Tide,[https://esperancetide.com/ Esperance Tide] was first published in 2016. It is published monthly, on the first Friday of the month.

Up until 2020, the local newspaper for the Esperance region was The Esperance Express. The Australian Community Media Group (ACM) suspended the weekly paper production due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |title='That's where we find out our news': Communities are mourning the loss of regional papers |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-21/australian-community-media-closures-esperance-express-newspaper/12259734 |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=ABC News |date=20 May 2020 |language=en-AU}}{{cite news |title=A year with no paper: Why funerals are being missed in this WA town |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-14/esperance-express-newspaper-one-year-funeral-notices-missing/13301290 |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=ABC News |date=14 April 2021 |language=en-AU}}

ABC Esperance is the local ABC station in Esperance, servicing the entire region. It broadcasts a local breakfast show and a co-produced local morning show each weekday from studios at 80B Windich Street in the city. ABC Esperance also has a local news service, produced by local journalists. As well as rural reports, ABC Esperance broadcasts national programs like AM, Conversations, The World Today, PM, Nightlife, Overnights, Grandstand, Saturday Night Country, and Australia All Over, along with a WA-centred weekend early morning and breakfast show, broadcast from either Perth, Albany or Kalgoorlie. Other national ABC services that are available in Esperance on separate FM frequencies include Triple J, RN, ABC Classic FM and ABC NewsRadio.

• West Coast Eagles 2006 Premiership player Quinten Lynch lives in Grass Patch, a farming region of Esperance.
• Former Neighbours actor Dan Paris was raised in Esperance and works as a photographer and helps with the harvest season in surrounding farms.

• {{flagicon|FRA}} Saint-Martin-de-Ré, Charente-Maritime{{cite web | url=https://www.esperance.wa.gov.au/your-council/your-council/your-council-committees-and-working-groups/esperance-twin-towns-program.aspx | title=Esperance Twin Towns Program | website=esperance.wa.gov.au | publisher=Shire of Esperance | access-date=2 September 2024 | date=2024}}

• Recherche Archipelago

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Esperance, Western Australia}}

{{Wikivoyage|Esperance}}

• [http://www.esperance.wa.gov.au/ Shire of Esperance official website]
• [http://www.visitesperance.com/ Esperance Visitor Centre]
• [http://www.esperanceport.com.au/ Esperance Port Authority]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080412025251/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/08/2211334.htm Court case begins over lead contamination]

{{Australiansurf}}

{{Towns Goldfields-Esperance WA}}

{{Western Australia}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Coastal towns in Western Australia

Category:Shire of Esperance

Category:Grain receival points of Western Australia

Category:Port cities in Western Australia

Category:Fishing communities in Australia