Piece of history reinstated

Finishing touches are being put on the new site of the iconic entry piece into Newman - the Stan and Ella Hilditch statue - after it was moved from its original location because of a native title dispute.

The massive, 12m-high, cut steel statue depicts the founder of Mt Whaleback and his wife. It was originally situated on a hill along the Great Northern Highway, but Shire of East Pilbara chief executive Allen Cooper said after discussions with BHP and the Nyiyaparli Aboriginal people, a new location was found.

"What happened previously was there was an issue with a native title claim as it was on another hill and BHP had to remove it," he said.

"The statue has now been reinstated, but more towards the northern entrance to town - the Newman Drive entrance. So it has a good view out to the ore bodies in the east, and certainly, you can see it from the distance."

Stan and Ella Hilditch became central to the history of Newman, after accidentally stumbling upon the iron ore of Mt Whaleback while out prospecting for manganese.

Former Newman Visitor Centre manager Mere White said when Stan Hilditch first climbed Mt Whaleback, he was using it as a vantage point to look for manganese.

"Hilditch's compass spun wildly and he realised he was standing on one of the largest deposits of iron ore in the world," she said.

At that time, there was an Australian Government embargo on the export of iron ore because of fears that the country's resources were in short supply.

At the time of their discovery, Stan said to Ella: "We probably won't have a chance to do anything in our lifetime, but we may, so let's make a pact - just you and me - to tell nobody".

A carpark and walkways around the statue are yet to be finalised.