Pardoo Roadhouse reopens ahead of tourist season as owner thanks North West communities for support

Owners of an iconic North West roadhouse destroyed by tropical cyclone Ilsa in 2023 have thanked the local community for helping them through the rebuild, and have reopened the business. Pardoo Roadhouse was almost completely ripped apart when tropical cyclone Ilsa made landfall 150km east of Port Hedland in April last year, bringing winds in excess of 250km/h. Workers’ accommodation dongas — empty with all staff hunkered down in a shipping container — were flattened, while the roof of the main roadhouse building was almost completely torn off by the wind. It left an estimated $4 million bill for the family run business and months of tireless work for the owners who, in January, told the Broome Advertiser they hoped to have the vital pit stop open before the 2024 tourist season. And they’ve reached their goal, with the roadhouse officially reopened on March 19, just weeks from the start of the North West tourist season. “We have worked tirelessly to rebuild and restore,” a post on the business’ social media on March 19 said. “To all of our loyal customers who have stood by us and offered a helping hand, we cannot thank you enough for your unwavering support. “Your kindness and emotional support have truly been heartwarming, and we are so grateful to have such wonderful people in our community.” The heartwarming post came after a series of break-ins rocked the property during the rebuild, with owner Varinder Batth telling the Broome Advertiser in January there had been four burglaries since the cyclone. “After Christmas, we drove 30 hours from Perth and arrived at an empty shop. It just breaks our hearts,” Mr Batth said at the time. “They’ve taken everything — all our shelving, all our cutlery and kitchen utensils, all the power tools we had for the repairs.” The thieves even used an angle grinder to cut the Pardoo Roadhouse sign off the side of the building, with Port Hedland police recovering the sign weeks later.