Just a short drive from modern Onslow lies one of the Pilbara's most significant historic sites. Set near the mouth of the Ashburton River, Old Onslow offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the region's early pastoral, pearling and settlement history.
Originally gazetted in 1885 and named after Sir Alexander Onslow, the town quickly became an important service centre for pastoral stations established along the Ashburton River. The nearby Minderoo Station, founded in 1882, was among the earliest pastoral properties in the region, helping shape the area's development.
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Onslow also became a busy pearling port, with fleets of luggers operating off the Pilbara coast. However, frequent cyclones repeatedly damaged the town and its port facilities, eventually leading to a decision to relocate the settlement.
In 1924, a new townsite was established approximately 18 kilometres north at what is now modern Onslow. Over the following year, buildings, businesses and residents were relocated by camel and donkey-drawn wagons, marking the end of the original township and the beginning of a new chapter for the community.
Today, visitors can wander among the stone ruins of the original gaol, courthouse, police station and police quarters, imagining life in one of Western Australia's most remote frontier settlements. Many artefacts and stories from the former town can also be explored at the Onslow Visitor Centre and Goods Shed Museum.