Mining giant BHP Billiton Iron Ore and Western Australia’s Pilbara communities last month celebrated what BHP Billiton is calling a significant milestone in Australia’s mining history by marking the fortieth anniversary of the railing and shipping of the first iron-ore mined from the Mt Newman project.

The anniversary of the Mt Newman project, which is now known as the BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s Newman joint venture, signifies the combined efforts of BHP Billiton Iron Ore, diversified miner Mitsui & Co, diversified trading company Itochu Corporation, their predecessors Mt Newman and Goldsworthy Mining, and the communities of Port Hedland and Newman, in Western Australia.

In 1969, the Mt Newman project celebrated three significant milestones: the first iron-ore was railed from Newman’s Mt Whaleback mine; the first shipment of iron-ore left Nelson Point, in Port Hedland, on the Osumi Maru, and the Mt Newman project was officially opened at Mt Whaleback, in Newman.

That year, a total of 6,45-million tons was mined and shipped from the region. Today, BHP Billiton Iron Ore exports more than 124-million tons a year of iron-ore.

Since 2002, the company has approved more than $10-billion in expansion projects. The company says that investment in the business is set to continue with installed capacity of the company’s Pilbara operations in Western Australia, which is expected to reach about 300-million tons by 2015.

The Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, says that the growth and success of the iron-ore-mining indus-try has made Western Aus-tralia’s Pilbara region one of Australia’s economic power-houses.

The true scope of the economic potential of the region’s iron-ore resources was first uncovered by pioneer Athol Stanley Hilditch, in 1957. Hilditch made a vast iron-ore discovery while searching for manganese, aware that iron-ore was of little value because of a federal government embargo on its export that would not be lifted until 1960.

The lifting of the embargo made way for one of the world’s largest iron-ore devel-opments – the Mt Newman project, which saw more than A$2,2-billion invested in Pilbara’s iron-ore production facilities, railways, ports and new towns.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore president Ian Ashby says that the 40-year milestone was not solely about the achievements of the business, but of the men and women whose hard work and dedication made the industry a reality.

“Everyone at BHP Billiton Iron Ore today is extremely proud to be continuing the work and delivering the 
vision of those pioneering 
men and women who laid the foundations for the industry 40 years ago,” says Ashby.

“We are proud to support community investment projects that contribute to the long-term sustainable development of Pilbara. 
“In financial year 2008, we invested A$20-million in the areas of greatest community need in Pilbara, namely health, education, indigenous development and township amenities,” he adds.