[4] BHP is the second-largest iron ore mining company in the Pilbara, behind Rio Tinto and ahead of the Fortescue Metals Group.

[4] The Mount Whaleback deposit was discovered in 1957 by Stan Hilditch but not publicised until 1960, when the Australian Government lifted the embargo on iron ore exports it had put in place because of concerns the mineral was in short supply.

On 1 June 1966, the first shipment of iron ore from the Pilbara left on board of the Harvey S.

[7] BHP's operations in Newman date back to 1968, when the Mount Whaleback mine was opened, the biggest single-pit Open-pit iron ore mine in the world, developed originally by United States company Bechtel Pacific.

Ore is transported through a 1.16 kilometre long tunnel from Nelson Point to the port at Finucane Island.