Cunderdin, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Cunderdin is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia
156 km east of Perth
, on Great Eastern Highway
.
, who explored the area in 1864 and recorded the name Cunderdin, from the Aboriginal name of a nearby hill. The meaning of the name is thought to mean "place of flowers".
Like many small towns in the area, Cunderdin developed as a stop-off town during the gold rush
in the WA Goldfields. Significantly in 1894 the railway arrived signalling the earliest settlement in the town. Later, in 1901, the Goldfields Water Scheme
designed by C. Y. O'Connor
led to a renewed increase in population of the town. The townsite was gazetted in 1906.
Cunderdin Airstrip is situated next to the agriculture college. It was built early in the Second World War as a base for the RAAF
flying school and bomber base.
and also livestock. There is also great livestock production. The Jolma Poll Dorset Stud, run by Perry Jasper and Co., has been very successful when competing in exhibition shows in Perth and Adelaide.
Cunderdin daviesia (Daviesiacunderdin) is a small to medium sized shrub, which grows to 1.6 m high. It appears that it is isolated to the Cunderdin area.
Visitors cannot help but notice the large Ettamogah theme hotel and pub when driving through the town, due to its redness and a car on its roof. It is based on the comics of Ken Maynard
and is one of a few of these pubs scattered throughout Australia. There are similar venues in Sydney
, Albury-Wodonga
, The Sunshine Coast, Queensland
and Morley
.
Cunderdin also serves as a stop on the Prospector
and Avonlink
rural train services.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
156 km east of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, on Great Eastern Highway
Great Eastern Highway
The Great Eastern Highway is a major road between the Western Australian cities of Perth and Kalgoorlie. It is a key route for vehicles accessing the eastern wheatbelt and the eastern goldfields...
.
History
The first European visitor to the area was Charles Cooke HuntCharles Cooke Hunt
Charles Cooke Hunt was an explorer who led four expeditions into the interior of Western Australia between 1864 and 1866. He died in Geraldton....
, who explored the area in 1864 and recorded the name Cunderdin, from the Aboriginal name of a nearby hill. The meaning of the name is thought to mean "place of flowers".
Like many small towns in the area, Cunderdin developed as a stop-off town during the gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
in the WA Goldfields. Significantly in 1894 the railway arrived signalling the earliest settlement in the town. Later, in 1901, the Goldfields Water Scheme
Goldfields Water Supply Scheme
The Goldfields Water Supply Scheme is a pipeline and dam project which delivers potable water to communities in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields, particularly Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie...
designed by C. Y. O'Connor
C. Y. O'Connor
Charles Yelverton O'Connor CMG was an Irish engineer who is best-known for his work in Australia, especially the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme.-Early life:...
led to a renewed increase in population of the town. The townsite was gazetted in 1906.
Economy
As part of the wheatbelt, the economy of Cunderdin is primarily agricultural. There is an agricultural college 3 km north of the town; it is one of the six campuses of the Western Australia College of Agriculture. There are approximately 110 students supported by 50 staff and their families.Cunderdin Western Australia Police 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2007.Cunderdin Airstrip is situated next to the agriculture college. It was built early in the Second World War as a base for the RAAF
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
flying school and bomber base.
Farming
Cunderdin is mostly a farming community. Former Chairman of the WA Colleges of Agriculture, Alan Carter, is one of the many farmers to occupy land in the region. His produce consists of wheat, lupins, canolaCanola
Canola refers to a cultivar of either Rapeseed or Field Mustard . Its seeds are used to produce edible oil suitable for consumption by humans and livestock. The oil is also suitable for use as biodiesel.Originally, Canola was bred naturally from rapeseed in Canada by Keith Downey and Baldur R...
and also livestock. There is also great livestock production. The Jolma Poll Dorset Stud, run by Perry Jasper and Co., has been very successful when competing in exhibition shows in Perth and Adelaide.
Places of interest
- Cunderdin Museum
- Youndegin, 19 km south of Cunderdin, has the ruins of the earliest settlement in the area
- Cunderdin Hill Lookout - panoramic views of the area
- Railway Water Tower
- Ettamogah Pub
- Cunderdin Golf Course, which is situated next to the Cunderdin Reservoir, itself part of the Goldfields water supply scheme
- Cunderdin Pool
- Historic sites of Youndigin and Doodenanning
- Cunderdin Town Oval
- Balga
- Golden Pipeline
- C Y O'Connor Park
Cunderdin daviesia (Daviesiacunderdin) is a small to medium sized shrub, which grows to 1.6 m high. It appears that it is isolated to the Cunderdin area.
Visitors cannot help but notice the large Ettamogah theme hotel and pub when driving through the town, due to its redness and a car on its roof. It is based on the comics of Ken Maynard
Ken Maynard (cartoonist)
Ken Maynard was an Australian cartoonist.Originally a police officer, he got his break as a cartoonist in 1958 contributing his Ettamogah Pub cartoons to the Australasian Post...
and is one of a few of these pubs scattered throughout Australia. There are similar venues in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Albury-Wodonga
Albury-Wodonga
Albury-Wodonga is the broad settlement incorporating the twin Australian cities of Albury and Wodonga, which are separated geographically by the Murray River and politically by a state border: Albury on the north of the river is part of New South Wales while Wodonga on the south bank is in...
, The Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
and Morley
Morley, Western Australia
Morley is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated approximately northeast of Perth's central business district within the City of Bayswater local government area. It contains the Centro Galleria, Perth's second-largest commercial shopping centre, constructed in 1994. The Morley bus station...
.
Cunderdin also serves as a stop on the Prospector
Transwa Prospector
The Transwa Prospector is a standard-gauge passenger train operated by Transwa that runs between Perth, Western Australia, and the Goldfields town of Kalgoorlie.-History:...
and Avonlink
Transwa Avonlink
The AvonLink is a standard gauge passenger train operated by Transwa that operates between Perth, Western Australia and the Avon Valley. It provides one service in each direction every weekday, to and from the regional town of Northam, and since 2004, has provided three extended services a week to...
rural train services.