Don Rhodes Mining and Transport Museum, Transport museum in Port Hedland, Australia.
The Don Rhodes Mining and Transport Museum displays an outdoor collection of retired mining equipment, locomotives, and transportation vehicles from Western Australia's industrial past. The exhibits include standard gauge railway engines alongside heavy-duty machinery that supported the region's mining operations.
The collection preserves machinery from the 1950s mining era, including the innovative Rhodes Ridley road train built to transport heavy crushing equipment across difficult terrain. These vehicles were engineered to meet the specific demands of remote mining operations in Western Australia.
The site occupies land that was once home to the Parnngurr Aboriginal community, creating a layering of industrial heritage with indigenous history. Walking through the museum grounds connects visitors to multiple stories of how this place has been used over time.
Most exhibits are displayed outdoors and accessible on foot, so wear comfortable shoes and bring sun protection. Plan to spend enough time walking between the scattered machinery and vehicles to get a full sense of the collection.
The collection features the first modern Australian road train, which traveled only about 3,000 miles before government licensing rules prevented its continued operation. This ambitious project failed not from mechanical problems but from regulatory obstacles of the era.
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