Eleven Australian Regional Cities from the Pilbara to Cape Byron

Karratha was established in 1968 to house the workforce for Hamersley Iron and later the petroleum and liquefied natural gas projects, next to the port of Dampier in the Pilbara. Its name comes from a local Aboriginal cattle station, and it recorded 17,013 people at the 2021 census.

Mount Isa was established in 1923 around mineral deposits, including one of the most productive combined lead, silver, copper and zinc mines in history. It stands at 356 metres in north western Queensland, and the artificial Lake Moondarra supplies its water.

Broken Hill was founded in 1883 after the discovery of its silver, lead and zinc ore deposit on the traditional lands of the Wilyakali people. It recorded 17,456 people in 2021 and received National Heritage listing in 2015 as Australia's longest running mining town.

Whyalla began as Hummock's Hill and was renamed in 1916, after iron ore exports began in 1903. Called the Steel City for its steelworks and shipbuilding, it is one corner of the Iron Triangle with Port Pirie and Port Augusta and recorded 20,880 people in 2021.

Port Augusta was founded in 1852 as a seaport near the head of Spencer Gulf, and the Barngarla name for it is Goordnada. Electricity generation was a major industry until its coal fired power stations closed in 2019.

Port Lincoln lies on Boston Bay at the foot of the Eyre Peninsula, about 280 kilometres from Adelaide, and the Barngarla call it Galinyala, meaning place of sweet water. It markets itself as Australia's seafood capital and recorded 14,404 people in 2021.

Murray Bridge, about 78 kilometres east southeast of Adelaide, was once called Mobilong and Edwards Crossing. It took its present name in 1924 from the road and rail bridge over the Murray River, and it is a farming hub on the route to Melbourne.

Goulburn was proclaimed a city by letters patent of Queen Victoria in 1863 and is regarded as Australia's first inland city. It stands at 702 metres on the Hume Highway between Sydney and Canberra, and its 2021 population was 24,565.

Armidale is the administrative centre of the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, and at 980 metres it is the highest city on this path. The University of New England makes it a rural university town, and Wikipedia gives 1849 as its establishment date.

Grafton, founded in 1851, sits on the floodplain of the Clarence River, and the Bundjalung people know it as Gumbin Gir. It stands only 5 metres above sea level and shares duties as joint seat of the Clarence Valley Council area with Maclean.

Byron Bay is a beachside town on Bundjalung Country whose adjoining headland, Cape Byron, marks the easternmost point of mainland Australia. Its traditional Minjungbal name was Cavvanbah, meaning meeting place, and it took the name Byron Bay in 1894.