Thoughts on Karratha

From what I have heard you will need to have GOOD qualifications to be able to afford to live there. Van parks are all full and to rent a house will set you back $2000 + per week. The weather is also a real stinker most of the year. As said, just what I’ve heard, haven’t been there for almost 20 years myself.
Lyndon

HI Donk, we spent 2 years up there recently. Pretty much as everyone has already said. Your biggest problem is getting accomodation. It is next to non existant and very expensive. Housing costs aren't just the rent either. At that time of the year you will need to run the a/c most of the time and power bills can reach $1400/2 months depending on which type of a/c the house has.(Maybe more now that tarrifs have risen). Fuel is also more expensive. At that time of the year it will be unpleasant to try camping. Having said that I found Karratha a fantastic town to live and work in. Heaps of fishing/camping/4wding at the appropriate times of the year. Heaps of sporting facilities too. Very limited dining/drinking out opportunities though. There is a fair bit of sightseeing that can be done, but once again- hot and windy at the time you are talking about.If you check out "Karrathaclassies" website you may find some accomodation for a short stay. Some people will rent out their driveways for a caravan- still pretty dear though- $300/week and pay amenities on top.Cheers, doc.

I was also there last year and found the same.

Rents $2,000 a week for 4 bed house. Cost of buying a house terrible for what they are.

One Caravan Park constantly full of workers going to work on shifts at odd hours.


Windy as a lot of the time.

Saw a job driving a bus out to the Ammonia plant. $36 an hour split shift like school work.

Not enough to pay the rent never mind food which, while expensive is no worse than anywhere else on the west coast outback areas.

Possibly ok for single guys living in Dongas but prohibitive for a family.

I f you are lucky enough to have accommodation supplied you will be far better off. Govermnent employees, teachers, nurses etc get almost free rent. But for many people their income barely covers rent and it isn't worth their time.

I have spent time in Pt Hedland, some blokes are lucky enough to have wives who are nurses and their pay covers living expenses and the blokes very good pay goes straight into the bank. By the time they are 30 they own a house and land outright back home and renting another one out!

That time of year it is almost too hot to do anything. With your days off sitting in front of the a/c seems like the best place.

Hi Donk,
the Pilbara is an amazing place, no question about it.

Unfortunately you are coming up at the hottest time of the year. Expect it to be around 40 degrees by 7am most mornings.

As others have said, accomodation can be the biggest problem. A lot of employers will subsidise your accomodation, depending on what you do for work, and who you work for.
Power bills of $750/month are pretty standard when you've got the air con blasting all day. For this reason, electricity allowances are also common place for a lot of employers.
There is a new classifieds site, dreamershill.com.au
This was set up by someone in Karratha and often has rentals and shared housing options.

Caravan parks generally have waiting lists of 4+ months

The people in the Pilbara are what make it a great place. Everyone will make you feel welcome. Once you get to know people, you will find good accomodation at a decent rate.

Enjoy your stint. You might find yourself staying a lot longer than a few months.

Dan

DONK
im up there every few weeks ,,,just a suport for all the mines.......as said will cost you big for anything up there.......a real rip off.