Ophthalmia Range
Encyclopedia
Ophthalmia Range is a range
in the Pilbara region of Western Australia
.
The range is located approximately 1190 kilometres (739 mi) North of Perth
and the nearest town is Newman
which is found approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) South of the range in the Hamersley Range
.
The first European to discover the range was the explorer Francis Thomas Gregory
in 1861 who was on expedition in the area in 1861 and noted the obvious iron ore deposits that colour the range. The range was later named in 1876 by Ernest Giles
; Giles was temporarily blinded when he reached the area after travelling East from the headwaters of the Ashburton River
and had to be led by his second in charge Alec Ross; he named the range after his condition at the time. Giles vision later recovered and he left unimpressed with the land.
The next expedition to the area was conducted in 1896 when Aubrey Woodward Newman attempted to lead a party overland from Cue
to Roebourne
. Newman succumbed to Typhoid prior to the expedition beginning and William Rudell took command. He later named Mount Newman (1053 metres (3,455 ft)) in the Ophthalmia Range after his deceased leader.
Mount Whaleback, which has been mined for iron ore for over 20 years, is a part of the range.
The eastern end of the Ophthalmia Range is connected to the Hamersley Range
.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in the Pilbara 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...
.
The range is located approximately 1190 kilometres (739 mi) North of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and the nearest town is Newman
Newman, Western Australia
Newman, located about 1186 km north of Perth and 9 km north of the Tropic of Capricorn, is a town in the Pilbara region. It can be reached by the Great Northern Highway...
which is found approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) South of the range in the Hamersley Range
Hamersley Range
The Hamersley Ranges is a mountainous region of the Pilbara, Western Australia. The range runs from the Fortescue River in the northeast, 460 km south. The range contains Western Australia's highest point, Mount Meharry, which reaches approximately AHD. There are many extensively-eroded...
.
The first European to discover the range was the explorer Francis Thomas Gregory
Francis Thomas Gregory
Francis Thomas Gregory was an English-born Australian explorer and politician.-Biography:Gregory was born at Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, England, and was the younger brother of the explorer Augustus Gregory...
in 1861 who was on expedition in the area in 1861 and noted the obvious iron ore deposits that colour the range. The range was later named in 1876 by Ernest Giles
Ernest Giles
William Ernest Powell Giles , best known as Ernest Giles, was an Australian explorer who led three major expeditions in central Australia.- Early life :...
; Giles was temporarily blinded when he reached the area after travelling East from the headwaters of the Ashburton River
Ashburton River (Western Australia)
The Ashburton River is located within the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The river rises approximately 100 km south of Newman and flows in a west north westerly direction until discharging into the Indian Ocean approximately 20 km south west of Onslow. The river crosses the North...
and had to be led by his second in charge Alec Ross; he named the range after his condition at the time. Giles vision later recovered and he left unimpressed with the land.
The next expedition to the area was conducted in 1896 when Aubrey Woodward Newman attempted to lead a party overland from Cue
Cue, Western Australia
- Further reading:* 'Along the Cue railway. Inspection of line with suggested improvements, visit to Georgina Siding'. West Australian, 11 June 1898, p. 5-External links:* *...
to Roebourne
Roebourne, Western Australia
Roebourne is an old gold rush town in Western Australia's Pilbara region. It is 202 km from Port Hedland and 1,563 km from Perth, the state's capital. It prospered during its gold boom of the late 19th century and was once the biggest settlement between Darwin and Perth...
. Newman succumbed to Typhoid prior to the expedition beginning and William Rudell took command. He later named Mount Newman (1053 metres (3,455 ft)) in the Ophthalmia Range after his deceased leader.
Mount Whaleback, which has been mined for iron ore for over 20 years, is a part of the range.
The eastern end of the Ophthalmia Range is connected to the Hamersley Range
Hamersley Range
The Hamersley Ranges is a mountainous region of the Pilbara, Western Australia. The range runs from the Fortescue River in the northeast, 460 km south. The range contains Western Australia's highest point, Mount Meharry, which reaches approximately AHD. There are many extensively-eroded...
.