Pinjarra Plavins Bauxite Pit

The Plavins Bauxite Pit near Pinjarra was once part of Western Australia’s long-running bauxite mining industry, which supplies raw material for the production of aluminium.

Bauxite is the main ore used to produce alumina, which is then refined into aluminium metal. Western Australia has some of the world’s largest bauxite deposits, particularly across the Darling Range east of Perth and the Peel region.

The Plavins pit is one of many small extraction areas that were part of broader mining operations feeding the Pinjarra Alumina Refinery, one of the largest alumina refineries in the world.

Mining bauxite in this region usually involves strip mining rather than deep underground excavation. The topsoil and vegetation are removed, followed by the shallow layer of bauxite ore beneath. Once the ore is extracted, the land is rehabilitated with soil and native vegetation.

Because of this process, bauxite pits often appear as temporary clearings in the forest landscape rather than permanent open quarries. Over time they are gradually reshaped and revegetated as part of rehabilitation programs.

The Pinjarra refinery, which began operating in 1972, created demand for a steady supply of bauxite from around the surrounding area. Pits like Plavins formed part of the network of mines feeding into that operation.

While individual pits may only operate for a limited time before moving on to the next deposit, they all play a major role in Western Australia’s economy. Alumina and aluminium exports from the state remains one of the biggest contributors to the resources sector.