Reviving Cossack: Australia's Coastal Ghost Town Set for a Major Revival

With its hauntingly silent streets, rich history, colonial buildings, and picturesque coastal setting, the isolated Cossack offers a unique and intriguing experience for tourists.

Now, the entire ghost town in Western Australia could soon be up for grabs.

Situated 1,300 kilometers north of Perth, Cossack was deserted 70 years ago. Despite this, its historical buildings remain remarkably well-preserved.

Once the birthplace of Australia’s pearling industry, Cossack ceased to exist as a port in 1910 and was eventually abandoned in 1950.

Currently, the town is only home to a caretaker responsible for maintaining its cleanliness and occasionally greeting curious visitors.

However, plans are reportedly in motion to revitalize Cossack, transforming it into a major tourist destination complete with eco-friendly accommodations, cafes, galleries, and campgrounds.

Despite its isolated position in the northwest of Western Australia, Cossack lies in the heart of the Pilbara region’s tourist triangle, which includes Coral Bay, Karratha, and Karijini National Park.

Cossack’s development has been a topic of discussion for years, but it wasn’t until late October 2020 that significant strides were made.

The Western Australian Government, which owns the town, issued a call for investors to express interest in obtaining either a leasehold or freehold title, with the latter offering land ownership.

Any investor looking to develop Cossack must comply with both heritage regulations and agreements regarding Indigenous land use.

A dark chapter in Australian history

Cossack is deeply connected to Australia’s Indigenous peoples, who have lived in the region for over 40,000 years. These communities endured horrific treatment during the early days of Western Australia’s pearling industry in the mid-1800s.

A plaque at Cossack reads, 'Next time you marvel at the beauty of a Western Australian pearl, remember the Aboriginal people who endured unimaginable suffering during the darkest days of the industry.'

This refers to the forced labor of Indigenous men, women, and children, who were made to dive for pearls, enriching Westerners who began the pearling industry in Australia 20,000 years after Indigenous people first harvested and traded these valuable gems.

Although this represents a somber chapter in Western Australia's history, the plaque is part of the inspiring Warlu Way, a 2,480-kilometer trail through the state's northern regions that introduces visitors to significant Indigenous sites, traditions, and culture.

According to Natasha Mahar, CEO of WA’s North West Tourism Board, Cossack would be an ideal location for a new Indigenous tourism venture centered around the region’s pearling history.

Mahar notes that the town has had great success with the annual Cossack Art Awards, which have showcased artworks from across the Pilbara region, including numerous remarkable Indigenous pieces, for the past 28 years.

“Aside from the three weeks of the awards festival, Cossack remains largely deserted. It would be fantastic to see the town developed sustainably, making it a vibrant destination year-round,” says Mahar to Dinogo Travel.

“Presenting Cossack’s pearling history from an Aboriginal perspective would be an excellent tourism initiative for the town,” she adds.

The town’s eerie, ghost town atmosphere also provides a one-of-a-kind experience for visitors.

“Walking through this desolate place and admiring its beautiful, historic buildings, you can’t help but feel a pull to uncover its story and understand why it was abandoned,” Mahar reflects.

Cossack is one of over a dozen ghost towns spread across Western Australia, a vast state nearly four times the size of Texas.

With approximately 80% of Western Australia's 2.7 million residents living in the state capital, Perth, the vast majority of the land remains empty. Scattered across these remote areas are once-thriving towns, abandoned when the industries that sustained them dried up.

The most infamous of these ghost towns is located 200 kilometers southeast of Cossack. Known as the deadliest place in Australia, Wittenoom was condemned by the WA government in 2008 due to its dangerous asbestos contamination.

For decades, Wittenoom's mines extracted a mineral that reportedly contributed to the cancer-related deaths of over 2,000 of the town's residents.

Although the WA Government warns visitors to stay away from Wittenoom because of the risk of asbestos exposure, it has become a dark tourism destination. However, aside from its infamy as a hazardous ghost town, Wittenoom offers little to tourists.

In contrast, Cossack has much more to offer. Unlike many of WA's other ghost towns, it has not been left to deteriorate. Cossack enjoys heritage protection, preserving its grand 19th-century bluestone buildings in excellent condition.

Beaches, water activities, and historic architecture.

Visitors to Cossack, usually staying in the nearby town of Karratha, can follow a designated walking trail that takes them past the town’s most iconic buildings. Highlights include the original post office, registrar’s office, customs house, police barracks and lockup, Galbraith Store, and the Courthouse, now serving as a free museum.

Stunning panoramic views of the town and coastline can be enjoyed from Cossack’s Tien Tsin Lookout, located next to a 110-year-old leprosy quarantine center.

Another excellent vantage point, Reader Head Lookout, lies just north of Cossack, offering visitors breathtaking views of the town's coastline. Settlers Beach, a long and nearly untouched stretch of sand, is incredibly peaceful.

Beyond swimming and sunbathing, the waters around Cossack are famous for being perfect for activities such as fishing, kayaking, and snorkeling.

Mahar believes the serene environment makes Cossack an ideal spot for an eco-resort and hopes that any future development would seamlessly blend with its pristine surroundings.

A spokesperson from the WA State Government confirmed to Dinogo Travel that investors could express interest in obtaining a freehold title for Cossack, which means full ownership of the land.

However, they emphasized that the WA Government is currently only gauging investor interest and that Cossack is not yet available for lease or purchase. The deadline to register interest is November 20, 2020.

The goal of the ROI (Registration of Interest) is to rejuvenate and breathe new life into the town, rather than simply achieving financial gain,” the spokesperson explains. “If a suitable proposal is accepted, plans will be made for the long-term upkeep of the site, contingent on all necessary approvals, including Native Title and heritage preservation requirements.”

It appears that Cossack may not remain a ghost town for much longer.