Early History 1618 - 1850

The first recorded sightings of North West Cape were by the Dutch vessel "The Zeewolf" in 1618 and "Mauritius" in the same year. Early maps published in 1625 and 1627 refer to "Willems River" and "Jacop Remmessens River". There is conjecture that these rivers are Yardie Creek or Exmouth Gulf mistaken for a river mouth. Pelsaert of the Batavia undoubtedly set foot in North West Cape en route to Batavia 1629. It is probable that W De Vlamingh visited North West Cape in 1697.

A French expedition lead by Nicolas Baudin in 1801 was responsible for naming Point Murat and the Muiron Islands and Philip Parker King completed a survey of Exmouth Gulf in 1818. He named places such as "The Bay of Rest". In 1811 The Rapid (an American 3 masted wooden vessel built in Boston in 1807) was wrecked near Point Cloates, thus heralding the first of a series of contacts that Americans have had with North West Cape.

A small nomadic tribe of aboriginals occupied the North West Cape until the turn of the century. Numerous middens and small coastal caves have evidence of their occupation and have been recorded by WA Museum.

Pearling and Pastoral Settlement 1850 - 1912

J Brockman acquired pastoral leases in 1876 which covered the entire North West Cape. He sold portions of these leases which included Ningaloo, Exmouth and Yardie Station to Thomas Carter, the famous ornithologist in 1888. Carter was responsible for the construction of most of the coastal wells which exist to this day. They bear aboriginal names which were carefully recorded in Carter's diaries. During this period Pearling Luggers from Port Hedland visited the Exmouth Gulf on a regular basis. A number were lost in cyclones including the Mothership "Fairy Queen" (1875) which was wrecked adjacent to where the US Navy Pier now stands. In 1907 SS Mildura was wrecked near Point Murat.

Lighthouse Era 1911 - 1942

Point Cloates and Vlamingh Head Lighthouses were constructed in 1911 and 1912 respectively. Point Cloates Whaling Station was established in 1912 and operated intermittently up till 1957 when it was finally closed. During this period Yardie Station and Exmouth Station became separate entities. Pearling Luggers continued to gather shell in Exmouth Gulf.

World War II - Oil Exploration 1942 - 1960

In 1942 the US Navy established a submarine base under the code name "Operation Potshot". Extensive facilities were built adjacent to where Learmonth Airforce Base now stands. Although the submarine tenders only stayed in the area for a very short period, the base continued to operate as a refuelling facility. Australian Army, Navy and Airforce personnel operated early warning radar, radio stations, AA guns and provided fighter cover for submarines. The US Navy established a PBY, the flying boat - based at the Bay of Rest. The famous Operation Jaywick which attacked shipping in Singapore Harbour departed from Exmouth Gulf. The Japanese bombed the location in 1943. A cyclone in 1945 extensively damaged the base and troops were withdrawn.

In 1953 WAPET acquired the use of the remaining defence buildings and commenced an era of oil exploration which was highlighted by a significant oil discovery in Rough Range in 1954. WAPET constructed a road network which is still in use (ie Charles Knife Road and Shothole Canyon).

Communications - Prawning Era: 1960 - Present

In 1962 agreement was reached between the Australian and United States Governments to establish a VLF Communications Station at North West Cape. The town of Exmouth was created to support this facility. Both were officially opened in 1967. MG Kailis Fisheries established a prawn trawling industry in 1964 at Learmonth and Morgan and Sons from Broome established a Pearl Culture Operation in 1965, M G Kailis commenced the Exmouth Pearls long line operation in the waters of the eastern side of the Exmouth Gulf. Bullara and Giralia Stations were added to the Shire of Exmouth in 1985. The boundary of Exmouth was extended to include Ningaloo Station in 2001.

Summary

Although there are few locations in the Shire of Exmouth of significant heritage value and those that have value are of relatively recent origin, it is important that planning makes provision for their preservation.

Yardie Station Homestead, Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, WWII Radar Site, Mildura Wreck, Yardie Creek, Operation Potshot Site, Rough Range and Cape Range Oil Well Sites and Wapet Creek are of historical significance. The Shire has made a conscious effort to record its history in a naming programme and construction of appropriate memorials.