Iron Road – The Story of the Roebourne-Cossack-Point Samson Tramway is an historical text set in the North West of Western Australia during the period from 1880 through to 1925 and beyond. The central theme of the story centres on the Roebourne to Cossack Tramway but the book is more than the tramway itself; it is the story of the early settlers of that time. It identifies the strong local leadership and the community’s struggle to gain funding for a range of basic services to meet their needs, including public funding to build the tramway from a miserly government located 1600 kilometres to the south.
The story explores the ongoing campaign of the community to sustain the tramway for forty years in a harsh environment made more difficult through the constant exposure to destructive willy-willys and floods. It identifies the people and includes their unlenting battle with indifferent governments, including intransigent railway commissioners, and highlights the uninterrupted changes arsing from the social, economic and political events of the time. It is a story that is particularly harsh of government and underlines the absolute mismanagement and failure of government to recognise the unique features and difficulties faced by the early inhabitants of the North West.
The fact that this tramway was built at all and survived for close to forty years is a testament to the spirit and endurance of the early North West settlers. Without their input, direction and ownership, the Roebourne-Cossack tramway, and later the Roebourne-Point Samson railway would simply not have existed.
Iron Road – The Story of the Roebourne-Cossack-Point Samson Tramway
Published by Iprintplus on 1 May 2025
ISBN 9780995393936
Format: Softcover, 309 pages
Dimensions: 23cm x 17cm
About the Author
Lindsay Rollo
As a young boy growing up in Roebourne in the early 1960s, Lindsay developed a love of country and an appreciation of the harsh realities of life, including hardship and isolation. He attended several country schools in Western Australia before completing his high school years in Kalgoorlie. Lindsay completed a social science degree with majors in history and geography from Curtin University, in addition to gaining teaching qualifications. In his initial years, he taught at Karratha Senior High School and while living in location he witnessed the early development of iron ore mining in the Pilbara in the 1970s.
Lindsay’s early exposure to adversity, when coupled with a 37-year career with the Royal Australian Air Force as an education and training officer, led to the development of strong values of mateship, loyalty, and independence which accorded him a unique understanding of the early Australian character and psyche. His life experience has enabled an empathic connection and a deep respect for the resiliency displayed by the early North West pioneers.
Today, Lindsay resides in both Perth and Busselton and is married with two daughters and two grandchildren. Since his retirement, he enjoys nothing more than reading historical fiction, exploring the outback, and enjoying the solitude of hiking and indulging his passion for landscape photography.
What Readers Have Said
There are few Australian history textbooks being written today of this calibre. Lindsay has done a remarkable job of uncovering the story of the early Cossack tramway, seamlessly weaving together its many facets into a compelling and highly readable narrative. This book stands as a true testament to the achievements and resilience of the pioneering individuals who shaped the North West.
David Rintoul
The information in this book is invaluable and provides critical insights that unfortunately have been lost over time, highlighting the remarkable achievements and contributions of our early pioneers in Roebourne and Cossack. Through detailed accounts and rich narratives, the text unravels the struggles and triumphs these individuals faced while navigating the challenges of a harsh landscape and a developing community. This comprehensive exploration not only honors their legacy but also serves as a vital resource for understanding the historical context and the profound impact these pioneers had on shaping the region’s culture and identity, ensuring that their stories are not forgotten by future generations.
Gail Crosby
A rich history of the North West brought alive by the writer in a very easy and relatable style. I had no idea that a horse drawn tramway ran between Roebourne and Cossack in the late nineteenth century nor was I aware that a steam locomotive ran between Roebourne and Point Samson in the early twentieth century. I am in awe of these early achievements.
Bailey Chifley
