Cervantes, Western Australia

Cervantes
The main shopping strip at Cervantes, 2015
Cervantes
Interactive map of Cervantes
Coordinates: 30°30′00″S 115°03′58″E / 30.5°S 115.066°E / -30.5; 115.066
CountryAustralia
StateWestern Australia
LGA
Location
Established1962
Government
 • State electorate
 • Federal division
Area
 • Total
9.8 km2 (3.8 sq mi)
Population
 • Total480 (SAL 2021)
Postcode
6511

Cervantes is a town in Western Australia located about 198 kilometres (123 mi) north-north-west of the state capital, Perth, in the Shire of Dandaragan local government area. At the 2021 census, Cervantes had a population of 480 down from 527 in 2016. The town was named after a ship that was wrecked nearby. The ship, in turn, was named after Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote.

The principal industry in the town is fishing. A small tourism industry is supported by the Pinnacles in nearby Nambung National Park. The saline Lake Thetis, which contains stromatolites, is also nearby.