Local historian visits steelworks for feature presentation
7 May 2024
Whyalla and the former shipyards at the steelworks will feature in the South Australian History Festival 2024 being held during May.
Local historian and Whyalla Museum Curator, Paul Mazourek was recently at the old slipway of the GFG Alliance steelworks to record a video for his history week presentation After the Shipyards: Whyalla in the 1980s.
Paul’s presentation and video will shed a fascinating light on the former heavy industry operations of the BHP shipyards that, in conjunction with the steelworks, produced many significant vessels from World War II until the 1970s.
My lecture will bring back memories for those who worked at the shipyards, those working at the steelworks now and the community as we delve into a fascinating period of Whyalla’s past
Paul Mazourek
“When BHP closed the Whyalla shipyards in 1978, it led to an exodus of skilled workers and their families from Whyalla,” Paul said.
“Many predicted this would be the end of Whyalla but as we know, the steelworks is still going now under the ownership of GFG Alliance and is now planning a new era in steelmaking using renewable energy and hydrogen.
“My lecture will bring back memories for those who worked at the shipyards, those working at the steelworks now and the community as we delve into a fascinating period of Whyalla’s past.”
After the Shipyards: Whyalla in the 1980s is a free event (no booking required) will be presented on Thursday 16 May 11am-noon at the Whyalla Public Library in the Vicki Ledo Room. More information available at After the Shipyards: Whyalla in the 1980s – South Australia’s History Festival
Main image: Videographer Josh Berkett films Paul Mazourek at the steelworks slipway for his presentation on ship building in Whyalla. Above right: Paul talks with SIMEC Mining Superintendent Readiness to Operate Paul Whitehouse who supervised the visit to the slipway.
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