Vale Lang Coppin

Pilbara cattleman and Marble Bar stalwart Lang Coppin has died, aged 76.

Born Langtree Eric Christopher Coppin, Mr Coppin became a prominent voice in Pilbara and pastoral circles owing to his outspoken advocacy for the region and the industry.

Federal Durack MP Melissa Price in 2024 described him as a “straight shooter” and a “champion” for his community.

Central to Mr Coppin’s story was the 250,000-hectare Yarrie Station, the pastoral lease which his family has cared for since the pioneer days of the 1880s.

Mr Coppin served Marble Bar as a councillor for nearly five decades and was honoured as a freeman of the Shire of East Pilbara one year after his retirement in 2024.

He is believed to be the longest serving councillor in WA’s history, though there are insufficient records to prove it.

Mr Coppin was bestowed a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2013.

Like most pastoralists in the area, he was a pilot, a prospector, a builder, and a lobbyist for the agriculture sector.

He also dabbled in tourism, having bought up Marble Bar’s caravan park, shop and roadhouse to offer a better tourism experience for those adventuring out to the remote locale.

Charitable interests include support for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Port Hedland School of the Air, and the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association.

The Coppin family is among the longest-running pastoral and business dynasties in Western Australia.

Mr Coppin’s daughter, Annabelle Coppin, is the fifth generation to run Yarrie station.

Yarrie’s Outback Beef brand is served at mine sites around the Pilbara and several restaurants in Perth