Nungarin, Western Australia

Town in Western Australia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nungarin is a town located in the north east of the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately 278 kilometres (173 mi) east of Perth and 39 kilometres (24 mi) north of Merredin. It is the main town in the Shire of Nungarin. At the 2006 census, Nungarin had a population of 142.[2]

CountryAustralia
Established1910s
Elevation
296 m (971 ft)
Quick facts Country, State ...
Nungarin
Railway Avenue, Nungarin, 2014
Railway Avenue, Nungarin, 2014
Nungarin is located in Western Australia
Nungarin
Nungarin
Interactive map of Nungarin
Coordinates: 31.187°S 118.101°E / -31.187; 118.101
CountryAustralia
StateWestern Australia
LGA
Location
Established1910s
Government
  State electorate
  Federal division
Area
  Total
351.3 km2 (135.6 sq mi)
Elevation
296 m (971 ft)
Population
  Total152 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode
6490
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The surrounding areas produce wheat and other cereal crops. The town is a receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling.[3]

History

Alice Williams Memorial Building in Nungarin

In October 1910, 1,486 acres (6.01 km2) at Avon Location 14227 and 14230 were set aside as a townsite reserve along the Dowerin to Merredin railway line.[4][5]

The townsite itself was gazetted in 1912.[6][7] The local hall was being built in 1919,[8] and was open by the following year.[9]

A large fire in 1922 destroyed Messrs Thomas and Thick's store along with the post office branch and the manager's residence of the Nungarin Farmers Cooperative Society. It was not known what caused the fire, which caused damage estimated at £12,000. The Farmers Cooperative reopened in the hall and the post office moved to the station building.[10]

In 1932 the Wheat Pool of Western Australia announced that the town would have two grain elevators, each fitted with an engine, installed at the railway siding.[11] Construction of the bins for the bulk handling of wheat commenced late in 1933 with 30 men employed to complete the work.[12]

Army Camp

During World War II it was an important army ordnance camp – 5 Base Ordnance Depot was established at the Nungarin Army Depot and Workshop. The site for the Army Depot was apparently selected as it was outside the range of Japanese carrier-based aircraft, and was readily accessible by the rail network.[13]

In 1946 a number of fires damaged army property.[14][15][16]

In the post-war era it was a site of large disposal sales.[17][18][19] The former army camp is now the site of the Nungarin Heritage Machinery and Army Museum.[20] The former Nungarin railway station building has been relocated to the Bennett Brook Railway at Whiteman Park in Perth.

Newspapers

Local newspapers included:

  • Nungarin Trayning Mail and Kununoppin Advertiser (1917–1922)[21]
  • Nungarin Standard (1934-1939)[22]
  • Dampier Herald and Nungarin Standard (1943-1958)[23]

Politics

Nungarin vote counts in state and federal elections
2004 federal election
Source: AEC
 Liberal 46.3%
 The Nationals 34.7%
 Labor 9.47%
 One Nation 4.21%
 Greens 3.16%
2001 federal election
Source: AEC
 Liberal 52.2%
 The Nationals 17.9%
 One Nation 14.9%
 Labor 10.5%
 Democrats 1.49%
1998 federal election
Source: AEC
 Liberal 50.8%
 The Nationals 23.8%
 One Nation 12.3%
 Labor 6.56%
 Democrats 3.28%
2005 state election
Source: WAEC
 The Nationals 59.8%
 Liberal 13.7%
 Labor 13.7%
 New Country 6.86%
 One Nation 3.92%
2001 state election
Source: WAEC
 The Nationals 61.5%
 One Nation 20.0%
 Labor 12.3%
 Independent 3.08%
 Greens 2.31%
1996 state election
Source: WAEC
 The Nationals 86.6%
 Labor 13.4%

References

Further reading

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