After extensive renovations, the Wellard Hospital building was opened as the ‘Tea Rooms’ in September.
Read the City of Kwinana Resource: Teashop in Esperance was once the Wellard Hospital
The town’s population was 10,074.
The Salmon Beach Wind farm, built as a research facility, started generating power. It was the first wind farm in Australia, consisting of six turbines.
The wind farm is now decommissioned, however, a single turbine can be viewed at the Esperance Museum Park (On the Esplanade).
The Esperance Boulevard Shopping Centre opened.
The Esperance Port Authority took on the old Nurses’ quarters (previously Wellard Hospital), and the building was moved to Taylor Street Beach front, where it served as offices for the consulting engineers who were supervising the deepening of the Port of Esperance.
The Bay of Isles Motel opened.
The town’s population was 9,906.
Esperance Port Authority office complex opened.
After a decade of mostly voluntary work, the first racing trials took place on the new racecourse. Esperance Bay Turf Club racecourse was established on Fisheries Road, and was officially declared opened by W.A. Premier, Brian Burke.
The old Cannery Arts centre gallery was refurbished, with new studios, a music centre, artists flat and verandas were added to the complex.
An immediate halt in salt mining on Pink Lake was called, until a thorough study was undertaken in order to establish that the industry has no effect on the colour of the area’s best known attraction.
Esperance Fishing Boat harbour opened at Bandy Creek. Fishing vessels and recreational craft now have a sheltered marina.
The Senior Citizens’ Centre, near the library and Shire offices, was completed.
