Tom Price
Tom Price is located approximately 1600 km from Perth and is situated on the edge of the Hamersley Ranges, within the Shire of Ashburton. It is the highest town in Western Australia at 747m above sea level, hence the name "Top Town".
Mount Nameless (Jarndunmunha), Tom Price. Photo by Andrew Stevens
Weather in the area can be extreme, ranging from 0 degrees on a winter's night to 45 degrees on a summer's day. During the summer, hot clear days are experienced, with an average temperature of approximately 35 degrees.
Winter months prove to be very pleasant with daytime temperatures varying from the low to mid 20s. The majority of rainfall is experienced during the summer months (wet season) and is dependent upon the cyclone activity off the coast. On average, Tom Price receives approximately 330 mm of rainfall each year.
Today, Tom Price is a picturesque, modern and fully serviced town designed to blend with the natural environment. Facilities include: a major supermarket, doctor, hospital, fuel outlets, library, primary schools, a secondary school, TAFE and several accomodation options. In 1992 Tom Price took out the Keep Australia Beautiful WA Award.
Tom Price town centre. Photo by Julie Glover
The love of sport and the outdoor life in Tom Price is evident, with the majority of sports catered for. The town is home to three large ovals, tennis, netball, basketball and squash courts as well as a lawn bowls green, an indoor cricket centre, an eighteen hole golf course and an Olympic size swimming pool.
There are several parks and gardens within the town, which are well maintained and provide an abundance of shade, suitable for a family BBQ, ball games or just a snooze under a tree.