Town mourns loss of local Port Hedland legend Arnold Carter

The Pilbara is this week mourning the death of one of its most iconic figures — Arnold Carter, a true Hedland legend whose influence spanned more than six decades.

Mr Carter died peacefully over the weekend at the age of 98, leaving behind a legacy woven into the fabric of Port Hedland.

Arriving in town in 1962, Mr Carter quickly became more than just a resident, he became a driving force behind the transformation of a dusty outpost into a critical cog in the engine of the Australian economy.

As a project manager with Mt Goldsworthy Mining Associates, Mr Carter played a pivotal role in launching iron ore exports from the Pilbara in the 1960s — a venture that would help shape Hedland’s global reputation as a mining powerhouse.

His leadership was key to establishing the Port of Port Hedland as a vital export hub, paving the way for the industry that would define the region for generations.

Last year, Pilbara Ports launched a short film documenting the timeline of Port Hedland iron ore exports as told by Mr Carter himself.

But Mr Carter’s legacy extended far beyond iron ore and infrastructure.

A dedicated public servant, he spent 34 years on the Port Hedland council, including six years as shire president from 1979 to 1985.

With his passion for local life he volunteered for countless organisations, including Port Hedland Marine Rescue, the chamber of commerce and industry, the turf club and the historical society, always with the same roll-up-your-sleeves attitude that endeared him to so many.

Over the years, Mr Carter weathered 29 cyclones, owned 26 local businesses and amassed an extraordinary network of friends, colleagues and admirers.

In 1963, he married his beloved wife Frances at St Cecilia’s Church on Edgar Street — a lifelong partnership that would become one of the cornerstones of their shared life in Hedland.

In a 2021 interview with the North West Telegraph, Mr Carter offered a characteristically humble recipe for longevity.

“I have my beer every day, I have a wonderful wife who I have been with for 64 years,” he said.

“Companionship is important and so is having satisfaction in what you do, you have to love what you do.”

It was that love for his work, his town and the people around him that made Arnold Carter a giant of the Pilbara.