Marble Bar, on Nyamal Country in the east Pilbara, grew after gold was found in the 1890s. The town is small, but its heat record and geology draw curious travellers.
Things to do
The Marble Bar. A bar of red and white jasper across the Coongan River, a few kilometres from town. Pour water on it to see the colours. Do not remove rock.
Chinaman's Pool. A waterhole near the jasper bar, popular for picnics.
Ironclad Hotel. A classic corrugated-iron outback pub.
Comet Gold Mine. A former mine with a museum and a tall chimney, south of town.
History and Country
Marble Bar is on the Country of the Nyamal people. Surveyor Nat Cooke named the area in the 1880s after the jasper bar across the Coongan River, which he mistook for marble. Gold was discovered nearby in 1890, and the town was gazetted in 1893. At its peak, the Pilbara goldfields drew thousands of prospectors; Marble Bar became the administrative centre of the East Pilbara. Its stone government buildings, built in the 1890s, are among the finest heritage structures in the Pilbara.
The hottest town
Marble Bar is known as Australia's hottest town. Between 31 October 1923 and 7 April 1924, it recorded 160 consecutive days with maximum temperatures of at least 37.8°C (100°F), according to the Bureau of Meteorology — a world record for consecutive hot days. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C.
Ancient geology
The Pilbara contains some of the oldest rocks on Earth, dating back more than 3.4 billion years. Near Marble Bar, the Dresser Formation and other sites preserve stromatolites and other evidence of early life, studied by scientists from around the world. The jasper bar itself is part of this ancient landscape.
A day around Marble Bar
Morning: Visit the Marble Bar jasper and Chinaman's Pool, then the heritage government buildings in town.
Afternoon: The Comet Gold Mine museum (check opening times), then return to the Ironclad Hotel for a cold drink.
Evening: Watch sunset over the hills — and enjoy the night sky.
Seasons
The cooler months, from May to September, are the only comfortable time to visit. Summer heat is extreme, and cyclones can bring heavy rain.
Getting there
Marble Bar is about 200 km south-east of Port Hedland, mostly on sealed roads, and about 1,480 km north of Perth. The road to Nullagine and Newman includes unsealed sections.
Where to stay
The Ironclad Hotel offers rooms, and there is a caravan park.
Safety
Carry plenty of water, fuel and supplies. Avoid summer travel, and never hike in the heat of the day.
Heritage buildings
Marble Bar's government buildings, constructed from local stone in the 1890s, include the old courthouse, police station and mining registrar's office. Built to withstand heat and cyclones, they are among the best-preserved examples of early Pilbara public architecture and are heritage-listed. The town's war memorial and old cemetery also tell the story of the gold rush era.
The Comet Gold Mine
The Comet Gold Mine, about 10 km south of town, operated for much of the twentieth century. The site includes an old headframe, a tall smelter chimney and a museum displaying mining equipment, rocks and minerals, and relics of the goldfields. Opening times can be limited, particularly in summer, so check locally.
Gold and fossicking
Gold prospecting is still popular in the East Pilbara. Anyone prospecting in Western Australia needs a Miner's Right from the Department of Mines, and must respect existing tenements, Aboriginal heritage sites and private property. Ask in town before you go, and carry plenty of water.
Aboriginal heritage
The Nyamal people have lived in this country for tens of thousands of years. Rock art and engravings occur across the Pilbara; if you come across sites, look but do not touch, and never remove objects.
Fuel, phones and medical help
Marble Bar Nursing Post on Station Street is a nurse-led clinic with an after-hours on-call service. The nearest hospital is in Port Hedland, about 203 km north.
Diesel and unleaded are available 24 hours at the Marble Bar Roadhouse. Nullagine is about 112 km south.
Travelling with kids
Older kids usually enjoy the Marble Bar Pool and the colourful jasper bar it is named after.
Where to next
- Port Hedland — about 200 km north-west, the region's major port.
- Nullagine — a small gold town about 115 km south via the Marble Bar Road.
- Newman — further south, on the Great Northern Highway.
- Karijini National Park — south-west, via Newman or Port Hedland.
- Eighty Mile Beach — north-east of Port Hedland, a long, remote beach popular for fishing and shell-collecting.
How Marble Bar got its name
The Shire of East Pilbara says Marble Bar was officially gazetted in 1893, after gold was discovered in the area in 1890 by prospector Francis Jenkins. The main street is named after him.
The town takes its name from a nearby jasper bar that runs across the bed of the Coongan River. Early prospectors mistook it for marble. The bar and the pool below it are now a popular spot for photos and picnics, and nearby Chinaman's Pool is another local picnic and swimming spot. Check conditions and signage before swimming, and never dive into unknown water.
The shire also says Marble Bar has earned a reputation as Australia's hottest town, because summer temperatures climb above 38°C for days on end. Visit between May and September for the most comfortable conditions.
Is it worth visiting Marble Bar?
If you're curious about the Pilbara's gold history, ancient geology and its hottest-town legend, yes. Combine it with Port Hedland or Newman, and carry plenty of water and fuel. See the Pilbara.
Practical tips
Mobile coverage is limited outside town. Fill up with fuel and water before leaving Port Hedland or Newman, tell someone your plans, and avoid travelling in the hottest months.
Who it suits
Marble Bar suits geology enthusiasts, gold prospectors, heritage lovers and travellers who want to say they visited Australia's hottest town. It is best visited between May and September.
Practical information
Marble Bar has fuel, a store, the hotel and a caravan park. It is about 200 km south-east of Port Hedland. Carry plenty of water and avoid summer travel.
Explore nearby
Frequently asked questions
Why is Marble Bar called the hottest town in Australia?
In 1923–24 Marble Bar recorded a run of 160 consecutive days with maximum temperatures of at least 37.8°C (100°F), a long-standing Australian record noted by the Bureau of Meteorology.
When is the best time to visit Marble Bar?
The cooler months, roughly May to September. Summer heat is extreme.
What is Marble Bar known for?
Marble Bar is known as Australia's hottest town, for long runs of summer days above 38°C. It's named after the jasper bar across the Coongan River, which early prospectors mistook for marble.
Is it worth visiting Marble Bar?
Yes, if you enjoy outback history and geology. The jasper bar, Chinaman's Pool, the heritage buildings and the gold-mining story make a worthwhile detour, best between May and September.
Sources and further reading
Facts on this page were checked against these primary and official sources. Conditions change — confirm before you travel or buy.
- Australian climate extremes — Bureau of Meteorology
- Shire of East Pilbara — Shire of East Pilbara
- About Marble Bar — Shire of East Pilbara
