General:
Meekatharra is situated in the Murchison/East Gascoyne region of the State and is a mining town and service centre for the East Murchison.
The name Meekatharra seems to have originated from an Aboriginal name for a water source located to the south west of the town.
Today’s Meekatharra provides a geographically convenient centre for the numerous pastoral stations, established mines and mineral exploration groups to obtain their stores, fuel, parts, postal services and other necessities of life.
Meekatharra was the first town in Australia powered by solar energy. When a solar-diesel power station was built near the town in 1982 it was the largest of its kind in the world, it has since been decommissioned.
Its central position in the State has made the airport an important refuelling stop for light aircraft, in addition to being an alternative to Perth Airport. The huge 2181 metre runway was built by the Americans during the war.
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