21 Disturbing Photos From Australia’s Chernobyl: Wittenoom

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 08/26/2024 in wtf

In the 1950s, Wittenoom was the largest town in Northwestern Australia's remote Pilbara region. Now, it's Australia's Chernobyl. So what happened? In short, asbestos.

Unlike Pripyat in Ukraine, Wittenoom sits in a picturesque desert mountainous region, with beautiful foliage and shining sun virtually all year round. There is no reactor explosion to examine, no abandoned city center and you would be forgiven for thinking Wittenoom is the perfect place for venturing off on some hiking trails or camping with the family.

Wittenoom in 1947, and was a company town built for mining blue asbestos. For a time, Wittenoom was Australia's only supplier of blue asbestos, and parents happily raised their children around open pits. Many of those children never saw old age.

The town's official status was removed in 2006. At 120,000 acres, the site is the largest contaminated area in the southern hemisphere. Here are 21 disturbing photos of Wittenoom.

List View
Player View
Grid View

1.
Wittenoom sits next to picturesque gorges and mountains in the Pilbara, but is strictly off-limits to visitors.
2.
Abandoned gas station in the ghost town Wittenoom.
3.
Blue asbestos shoveling competition, 1962, Wittenoom, Australia.
4.
5.
6.
The spectacular landscape around Wittenoom has never been cleaned up after mining ended.
7.
Wittenoom, Australia’s Chernobyl. Will be deadly dangerous to humans long after Chernobyl is safe.
8.
Wittenoom mineshaft.
9.
10.
The view of a gorge at Wittenoom from inside an old mine shaft.
11.
Two children playing in blue asbestos in Australia. Both were dead by 35.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Mining for blue asbestos.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Wittenoom's last resident before she was evicted. The last remaining buildings will be destroyed to discourage unauthorized visitors.

1.
Wittenoom sits next to picturesque gorges and mountains in the Pilbara, but is strictly off-limits to visitors.
2.
Abandoned gas station in the ghost town Wittenoom.
3.
Blue asbestos shoveling competition, 1962, Wittenoom, Australia.
4.
5.
6.
The spectacular landscape around Wittenoom has never been cleaned up after mining ended.
7.
Wittenoom, Australia’s Chernobyl. Will be deadly dangerous to humans long after Chernobyl is safe.
8.
Wittenoom mineshaft.
9.
10.
The view of a gorge at Wittenoom from inside an old mine shaft.
11.
Two children playing in blue asbestos in Australia. Both were dead by 35.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Mining for blue asbestos.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Wittenoom's last resident before she was evicted. The last remaining buildings will be destroyed to discourage unauthorized visitors.