Weipa is home to the worlds largest Bauxite mine, operated by Comalco. In fact, the company was instrumental in the planning and building of the town in the 1960's. It lies approximately 804 kilometres to the North/West of Cairns and is home to 3,500 residents.
Permits must be obtained for those travelling around Weipa as the lands are not public property. They are the lands of the indigenous Aborigines and as some of the areas are sacred and special, then visitor access is regulated by way of these permits.
A mystery of the area are the Weipa Shell Mounds. Believed to have been dumped there some 800 years ago they are an estimated 200,000 tonnes of Cockle Shells. Although no one has conclusively proved there occurrence, it is commonly believed that they are the result of frequent Aboriginal gatherings to the area where the Anadara were abundant.
The local community are warm and welcoming and maintain this informative website.
