The West Australian government has commenced the demolition of Wittenoom, a ghost town that was once a hub for asbestos mining. 

The move comes after the Wittenoom Closure Bill was passed in 2021 and the remaining residents were evicted. 

The deserted town was officially removed from the map in 2007 in an effort to discourage visitors from seeking it out. 

Wittenoom was the site of widespread asbestos mining from the 1930s to 1966, which resulted in thousands of workers and residents contracting mesothelioma and other deadly diseases. 

The government has warned that trespassers found at the site could be prosecuted.

A spokesperson from the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage has confirmed that all roads to the former town site and nearby gorge have been permanently closed for the demolition. 

Warning signs have been placed around the worksite and the area is not accessible to visitors. 

The spokesperson added that all demolition materials would be buried on site.

Lands Minister John Carey has previously stated that the government closed the town to deter visitors attracted by the picturesque landscape. 

The area around Wittenoom still contains millions of tonnes of asbestos tailings, a legacy from the historic mining industry. 

It is the largest contaminated site in the southern hemisphere, but the government has not yet committed to a cleanup.

But many are calling on the government to work harder to remove the remaining asbestos. 

The government spokesperson stated that the size of the contaminated area made remediation unlikely to be technically feasible.