Karratha, Western Australia — interactive Google street map, satellite and terrain views, Street View, live local weather conditions and 7-day forecasts, real-time local and world news, and an editorial description of Karratha, in the City Of Karratha local government area.
| Locality | Karratha |
| State | Western Australia (WA) |
| Local Government Area | City Of Karratha |
| Country | Australia |
| Timezone | Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) - no daylight saving |
| Remoteness | Remote Australia |
| Latitude | -20.73459 |
| Longitude | 116.84532 |
| Population | 11,728 |
| Density | 24953.2 /km² |
| Area | 0.5 km² |
| Elevation | 20 m |
| Postcode | 6714 |
| Area Code | 08 |
| Distance to Perth | 1251 km north |
Karratha is a locality in the City Of Karratha local government area of Western Australia, Australia. It has a population of 11,728. The locality covers an area of 0.5 km², giving a population density of about 24953.2 people per km². It sits at an elevation of around 20 m above sea level. It lies approximately 1251 km north of Perth. Karratha is located at 20.7346°S, 116.8453°E. It observes Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) - no daylight saving. Postcode: 6714. The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies the area as Remote Australia.
Karratha shimmers under a vast, cerulean sky, a town carved into the ochre earth of the Pilbara region. It lies 922.0 km north-north-east of Geraldton, WA (from Geraldton, WA: bearing 15°T), and is situated 4.6 km east of Nickol. The air here carries a dry, mineral tang, a constant reminder of the ancient land that cradles it. Low-slung buildings huddle against the relentless sun, their corrugated iron roofs glinting like scales. Beyond the town's edge, the landscape softens into a rugged tapestry of spinifex, hardy scrub, and the distant, hazy outline of iron-rich hills that bleed rust-coloured hues into the horizon. The light at dusk is a spectacle of molten gold and bruised purples, painting the sky with an intensity that seems to ignite the very air, a daily benediction upon this sun-baked country.
The story of Karratha is inextricably linked to the immense mineral wealth that lies beneath its surface, a legacy etched into its very foundations. Once a quiet pastoral area, the discovery of iron ore in the mid-20th century transformed this remote corner of Western Australia into a hub of industrial might. The local economy thrives on the extraction and export of this precious resource, with vast mining operations shaping the surrounding terrain and fuelling the town's growth. This industrial pulse is softened by the proximity of the Dampier Archipelago, a scattering of islands just offshore, offering pristine beaches and turquoise waters that beckon travellers seeking respite from the inland heat. The spirit of Karratha is one of resilient enterprise, a testament to human endeavour against a backdrop of raw, untamed natural beauty.
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This page provides an interactive Google map of Karratha, Western Australia with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorially written description provides background on Karratha, in the City Of Karratha local government area.
Detailed location data for Karratha includes the postcode (6714), telephone area code (08), and local government area (City Of Karratha), with an ABS remoteness classification of Remote Australia. These are among the most commonly searched location details for any Australian city, town or locality.
Location data is drawn from Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020) and enriched with GeoNames and Australian Bureau of Statistics data, matched by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Karratha is identified even where the name is shared across multiple localities.
| Page generated | June 2026 |
| Location data | Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020); enriched with GeoNames and ABS 2021 Census data, matched by coordinate proximity |
| Description | Editorial description generated with AI assistance from verified Geoscape, ABS and GeoNames location data. |