Cossack

Cossack, nestled at the mouth of the Harding River on Western Australia’s (WA) West Pilbara Coast, has experienced a somewhat chequered past. Today, many fine stone buildings have been fully restored to provide informative and memorable insights into the town’s wild and fascinating history.

Cossack history

Situated just 12 kilometres from Roebourne in WA, Cossack was originally established as the North West’s main shipping port and named ‘Tien Tsin’, after the boat which carried the first settlers to the region in 1863. The township was renamed after the warship ‘Cossack’ following a visit from Governor Weld in 1871.

During the Pilbara gold rush thousands of people came to the WA town of Cossack in search of their fortune. Its port also became the home of a fast-growing pearling industry, but once the area had been fished out, the fleet moved further north to Broome. The Japanese Cemetery is a vivid reminder of the pearling industry. For a short while, Cossack was home to a turtle soup factory and a leprosarium. Hard times followed their closure, resulting in the eventual abandonment of the WA town in the early 1950s.

Since it was declared a historical town in 1979 many buildings have been restored, including the Customs House/Bond Store (1896-97), the Post and Telegraph Office/Bakery (1885), Police Barracks, Cook House and Lock Up (1897), Galbraith’s Store (1890-91), the Court House (1895) and School House (1897). The Shakespeare Hall Social History Museum is housed in the Court House building. A fine art gallery and pottery shed now take up residence in the Post and Telegraph Office/Bakery.

Jarman Island Lighthouse

Jarman Island Lighthouse, located near Cossack on WA’s West Pilbara Coast, was operated from 16 May 1888 until 15 May 1985 and is one of the region’s most significant historic landmarks.

Settlers Beach and Lookout

Discover the beautiful Settlers Beach. This wide, safe and sandy beach is ideal for families or for taking a relaxing leisurely stroll. Aboriginal rock art can also be seen on nearby cliffs. The lookout pergola, perched on the cliff top, offers sweeping views of Roebourne, Wickham, Point Samson and Cape Lambert, and along the coast to De Puch Island. There is great fishing from the wharf or among the mangroves on the river or beaches. Catches include mackerel, salmon, bream, mangrove jack and barramundi. Mud crabs and blue swimmer crabs are also found here. Superb diving and snorkelling can be experienced on the surrounding islands.

Cossack Art Award

Each year, when the Cossack Art Award opens to the public, this historic Western Australian (WA) town comes alive with artistic expression. Established by the Shire of Roebourne in 1993, the award now offers a prixe fund in excess of $45,000, including a major prize of $6,000, five prizes of $5,000, one prize of $2,500, three prizes of $2,000 and three prizes of $1,500. Six of the eleven categories focus on Australia’s North West, for either North West subject matter or Pilbara artists.

So popular has this exhibition become, it has featured the works of some of Australia's most celebrated artists, including Ken Done, Pro Hart, Robert Juniper, Jack Absalom, John Borrack, Wim Boissevain, Bevan Pooraar-Hayward. Many of the category winners now adorn the walls of Australian corporate boardrooms.

Local Aboriginal artist Clifton Mack has won the award several times with other local artists winning various prizes in different categories.

Cossack accommodation

Budget accommodation is available in Cossack’s Police Barracks.

Visit the Shire of Roebourne website, or call the visitor centre on +61 8 9182 1060 for more information about attractions and accommodation in the historic WA town of Cossack.

Some information presented in this website has been sourced, with permission, from the Shire of Roebourne website.