Jennacubbine, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Jennacubbine is a small town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia
, to the east of Perth, Western Australia
between the towns of Northam
and Goomalling
.
name for a well in the area, which may mean "salt water" according to some sources and was first recorded by explorer Augustus Gregory
in 1848 as "Jenacubine", with the current spelling being adopted in 1889. Jennacubbine was established as a siding on the railway line from Northam
to Goomalling
in June 1902.
At this time, Jennacubbine had a hotel, a general store, two other shops, and eight houses in the main street. The sealed main street ended at the front door of the hotel. Several railway huts were constructed on the opposite side of the rail line from the main street, and a Catholic church was constructed in 1905 and was used as a school until 1911. By the 1960s, all that was left was the hotel, the general store and one house.
In 1970 the general store was burnt to the ground, in a late night fire that was reported to have been caused by the store's old kerosene
refrigerators. The store was over 100 years old when it was destroyed. A fire truck
from Goomalling attended the fire, but its onboard water tanks were dry from a previous fire, and there was no town water in Jennacubbine.
Ironically, the state's Water Authority had gazetted that Jennacubbine was to get town water, and pipes had been laid in the ground to the town, but there had been no connections to any building nor any public facilities including fire hydrants.
Today, the hotel is the social hub of the local farming community.
train at a level crossing
near the town on Yarramony Road. The accident led to a Government
report on potential methods to increase safety at level crossings. One of the recommendations saw the compulsory fitting of ditch-lights on all locomotive
s operating in Western Australia.
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...
, to the east of Perth, Western Australia
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....
between the towns of Northam
Northam, Western Australia
Northam is a town in Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers, about north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley. At the 2006 census, Northam had a population of 6,009. Northam is the largest town in the Avon region...
and Goomalling
Goomalling, Western Australia
Goomalling is a townsite in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia 45 km north north east of Northam, Western Australia. The name Goomalling was first shown for a spring found by explorers Hillman & Lefroy in 1846. Hillman noted on his plan "rich grassy country" and squatters subsequently...
.
History
The town's name derives from the NoongarNoongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
name for a well in the area, which may mean "salt water" according to some sources and was first recorded by explorer Augustus Gregory
Augustus Gregory
Sir Augustus Charles Gregory KCMG. was an English-born Australian explorer. Between 1846 and 1858 he undertook four major expeditions.-Early years:...
in 1848 as "Jenacubine", with the current spelling being adopted in 1889. Jennacubbine was established as a siding on the railway line from Northam
Northam, Western Australia
Northam is a town in Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers, about north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley. At the 2006 census, Northam had a population of 6,009. Northam is the largest town in the Avon region...
to Goomalling
Goomalling, Western Australia
Goomalling is a townsite in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia 45 km north north east of Northam, Western Australia. The name Goomalling was first shown for a spring found by explorers Hillman & Lefroy in 1846. Hillman noted on his plan "rich grassy country" and squatters subsequently...
in June 1902.
At this time, Jennacubbine had a hotel, a general store, two other shops, and eight houses in the main street. The sealed main street ended at the front door of the hotel. Several railway huts were constructed on the opposite side of the rail line from the main street, and a Catholic church was constructed in 1905 and was used as a school until 1911. By the 1960s, all that was left was the hotel, the general store and one house.
In 1970 the general store was burnt to the ground, in a late night fire that was reported to have been caused by the store's old kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
refrigerators. The store was over 100 years old when it was destroyed. A fire truck
Fire apparatus
A fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
from Goomalling attended the fire, but its onboard water tanks were dry from a previous fire, and there was no town water in Jennacubbine.
Ironically, the state's Water Authority had gazetted that Jennacubbine was to get town water, and pipes had been laid in the ground to the town, but there had been no connections to any building nor any public facilities including fire hydrants.
Today, the hotel is the social hub of the local farming community.
Yarramony crossing incident
On 8 July 2000, three teenagers were killed when their Toyota Landcruiser collided with a southbound grainWheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
train at a level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
near the town on Yarramony Road. The accident led to a Government
Government of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
report on potential methods to increase safety at level crossings. One of the recommendations saw the compulsory fitting of ditch-lights on all locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s operating in Western Australia.