Nungarin, Western Australia

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]

Nungarin
Western Australia
Railway Avenue, Nungarin, 2014
Nungarin is located in Western Australia
Nungarin
Nungarin
Coordinates31.187°S 118.101°E / -31.187; 118.101
Population152 (SAL 2021)[1]
Established1910s
Postcode(s)6490
Elevation296 m (971 ft)
Area351.3 km2 (135.6 sq mi)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Nungarin
State electorate(s)Central Wheatbelt
Federal division(s)Durack

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.[4] The townsite itself was gazetted in 1912.[5]

The local hall was being built in 1919,[6] and was open by the following year.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9] Construction of the bins for the bulk handling of wheat commenced late in 1933 with 30 men employed to complete the work.[10]

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.[11]

In 1946 a number of fires damaged army property.[12][13][14]

In the post-war era it was a site of large disposal sales.[15][16][17] The former army camp is now the site of the Nungarin Heritage Machinery and Army Museum.[18] The former Nungarin railway station building has been relocated to the Bennett Brook Railway at Whiteman Park in Perth.

Newspapers
See also: Wheatbelt newspapers

Local newspapers included:

  • Nungarin Trayning Mail and Kununoppin Advertiser (1917–1922)[19]
  • Nungarin Standard (1934-1939)[20]
  • Dampier Herald and Nungarin Standard (1943-1958)[21]

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
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Nungarin (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Nungarin (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  3. "CBH receival sites" (PDF). 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  4. "Reserves – Avon (13099) (per 13021/10)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 28 October 1910. p. 1910:3327.
  5. "New Townsite – Nungarin (per 13021/10)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 4 March 1912. p. 1912:1083.
  6. "Advertising". The West Australian. Perth. 4 January 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 5 October 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Advertising". Sunday Times. Perth. 30 May 1920. p. 5 Section: Second Section. Retrieved 5 October 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Country Fires. Extensive Damage". Western Mail. Perth. 23 February 1922. p. 8. Retrieved 5 October 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Country elevators". The West Australian. Perth. 6 July 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 6 April 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Country news". The West Australian. Perth. 2 October 1933. p. 14. Retrieved 7 April 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Australian Web Archive". Archived from the original on 20 September 2004.
  12. "£100,000 Fire Guts Nungarin Army Store". The Daily News (City Final ed.). Perth. 20 February 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 5 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "Army Men Suspect Nungarin Firebug". The Daily News (Home ed.). Perth. 1 April 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 5 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "Nungarin Camp Man Cleared". The Daily News. Vol. LXIV, no. 22, 238 (Home ed.). Western Australia. 18 July 1946. p. 9. Retrieved 2 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "Flooring Timber". The West Australian. Perth. 27 August 1946. p. 6. Retrieved 5 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "Lamps Will Help In Blackout". The Daily News (Home ed.). Perth. 9 June 1949. p. 11. Retrieved 5 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. "Country Clean-Up". Sunday Times. Perth. 21 September 1947. p. 13. Retrieved 5 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. http://www.collectionsaustralia.net/org/1607
  19. "Nungarin". Nungarin Trayning Mail And Kununoppin Advertiser. Vol. II, no. 85. Western Australia. 18 March 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 2 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. "Nungarin Standard". The Nungarin Standard. Vol. 3, no. 41. Western Australia. 18 February 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 2 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. "Noted at Nungarin". Dampier Herald And Nungarin Standard. Vol. XVII, no. 40. Western Australia. 22 December 1944. p. 1. Retrieved 2 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.

Further reading

Media related to Nungarin, Western Australia at Wikimedia Commons

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