Howatharra is a small town in the Mid West region of Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

, between the city of Geraldton

Geraldton, Western Australia

Geraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...

 and the town of Binnu

Binnu, Western Australia

Binnu is a town located on the North West Coastal Highway in the Mid West region of Western Australia.The name derives from a well on the outskirts of town that was first in use in 1909. The name is Indigenous Australian in origin and is thought to mean either to squeeze or place of emus...

. It is situated just off the North West Coastal Highway

North West Coastal Highway

North West Coastal Highway in Western Australia is a generally north-south Western Australian highway which links the fishing town of Geraldton with the iron ore port of Port Hedland. It is long, and constructed as a sealed 2-lane single carriageway with overtaking lanes in some parts. It was...

 and on the Oakagee River.

The town was originally a railway siding that was established in 1908 following the land around the town was opened up for agriculture in the early 1900s. Initially the town was known as Howatharra and also Webb's Siding and was gazetted as the former in 1909.

The town is Aboriginal in origin, and is the local name for a nearby spring

Spring (hydrosphere)

A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...

.