Pilbara stalwart remembers famous furry friend Red Dog

Ian Waterstrom at the Red Dog statue in Dampier, with the hard hat he wore in the movie as an extra. (ABC Pilbara: Tom Robinson)

WA's Pilbara region is known for its blue sky, red dirt — and Red Dog.

The iconic stray roamed the state in the 1970s, hitching rides and travelling throughout the region and even as far south as Perth.

And although he died more than four decades ago, Red Dog is still alive in the hearts of locals, including Pilbara stalwart Ian Waterstrom — who has lived in the mostly transient region for almost 50 years.

A loveable dog with a pungent smell

It's believed Red Dog was born in Paraburdoo in about 1971 and touched so many lives he became the subject of a book and globally renowned film.

One of the rides he hitched was the workers' shuttle bus that Mr Waterstrom would use to travel from Karratha to his job in the burgeoning resources industry.

For Mr Waterstrom, his strongest memory of the loveable dog was his pungent smell and fierce defence of his seat on the bus.

"He smelt terrible. I don't think anyone ever washed him … you couldn't get near him," he said.

Koko played the notorious kelpie in the Red Dog movie. (Supplied: David Darcy)

Ultimately the workers' affections for Red Dog shone through, and he would be allowed to sleep in the workshop, where he had memorised all the best cool spots to sleep away from the Pilbara heat.

"He knew where all the air-conditioned areas were," Mr Waterstrom said.

"He'd just curl up on the floor and sleep. We'd bust open a bag of rags, and he'd make a nest, and he'd sleep for a couple of hours."

Mr Waterstrom's connection with Red Dog continued later in life when he had a role in the 2011 movie as an extra.

"They used to rub you down with this red dust … [made of] ochre or something, and they'd paint you with all this stuff to make you look like you've been working all day," he said.

A statue of Red Dog is at the entrance to the Pilbara town Dampier. (ABC Rural: Stephen Stockwell)

Region undergone vast change

Mr Waterstom first arrived in the Pilbara 49 years ago. He was attracted to the red dirt for work and drove more than 4,100 kilometres from Melbourne to Paraburdoo.

He later relocated to Karratha.

The Ashburton Shire, which includes Paraburdoo, celebrated its 50th birthday this month and Mr Waterstrom said the region had undergone vast changes since he arrived.

"We lobbed there in summer, so that was a bit scary," he said.