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Cossack Heritage Walk Trail Cossack Heritage Walk Trail

Urban Walk  in North West

  • 1-3 hours
  • 5 km

Cossack is a historic ghost town with immaculately restored bluestone buildings offer a rare insight into the area's past. This 5km walk trail guides visitors through the remnants of this early settlement that include some of the oldest buildings in northern Western Australia. Explore the Tien Tsin lookout for beautiful views across Butcher Inlet and the Indian Ocean, the European and Asian Cemetery, and buildings such as the Bond Store, Post Office, Police Barracks and the Courthouse that is now the Cossack Museum.

Cossack Heritage Trail, Courthouse, T Johnson
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Originally known as Tien Tsin after the barque that landed Walter Padbury, his party and his stock at the mouth of the Harding River, Cossack was vital to the early development of the Northwest. Cossack was the original port of pearls before the luggers moved north to Broome in 1886, an early hub for gold prospectors in the region, and a port for pastoralists in the Pilbara.
The beautifully restored bluestone buildings in the ghost town of Cossack are testament to this small town’s huge importance in 1880’s and 1890’s and offer a fantastic insight to the hardships and successes of the first settlers.


Trail highlights include Cossack Wharf, the Customs House and Bond Store, the Post and Telegraph Office, Police Barracks, Cookhouse and Lockup, the Courthouse and Galbraith Store.
Enjoy a lunch at the café in the restored Customs Building (during tourist season, May to September). 


The Old Police Barracks offers budget accommodation.


The Cossack Art Award is the nation's richest regional art prize. The exhibition usually runs around mid-July to August (you can check the Northwest event calendar here) and the hundreds of entries are scattered throughout several buildings during the exhibition.

City of Karratha

08 9186 8555

Karratha Visitor Centre

(08) 9186 8055

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Be trail ready for Cossack Heritage Walk Trail

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

Half-day

Length

3 to 5km depending on route

Trail Start

Cossack Wharf. Cossack is 1,566km NW of Perth. It is near the town of Wickham approximately 50km from Karratha

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Trail End

Galbraith Store

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What To Pack

Hazards & Warnings

Pilabra is very hot in summer, there are no designated watering stations or shade.

Facilities

Many facilities such as accommodation and café are seasonal (i.e. June- September).
  • Cafe
  • Interpretive Centre
  • Picnic Area
  • Public Toilet

Best time of year

June-September

Trail Access

Road 2WD

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Trails are free and offer countless benefits to our community, from fostering fun and fitness to encouraging social connection, exploration, and personal challenges. These exceptional trail experiences are made possible through the support and collaboration of these great organisations and initiatives:

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