bhp's operations in newman date back to 1968, when the mount whaleback mine was opened, the biggest single open-pit iron ore mine in the world. a new town, mount newman, was constructed, as well as a 426 kilometre railway line, the mount newman railway. the first train left mount newman on 1 january 1969 and the first shipment of newman ore left port on 1 april 1969 on board of the "osumi maru". newman remained a "closed" company town until 1981.