Kulin, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Kulin is a town located in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia
, approximately 280 km from Perth. It is the main town in the Shire of Kulin
.
, Surveyor General of the Swan River Colony
on his 1848-49 expedition to examine the south coast. He encountered a group of Aborigines
34 miles east of Nalyaring (near Brookton
) who guided the expedition party to several water sources, including the Kulin Rock soak
, before leaving the party at Yeerakine (just south and east of Kondinin
) as this was the limit of their territory. These guides used the name 'Coolin' to describe the area now known as Kulin Rock.
In the early years, settlers occasionally encountered groups of Aborigines hunting possum
s. Although artifacts such as grinding stones and stone choppers have been found in the district, no signs of permanent occupation were found by early settlers other than the mia-mias built by "Europeanised" Aboriginal shepherds from Narrogin
in the employ of Michael Brown.
Michael Brown, a businessman from Narrogin, took up large pastoral leases in the Kulin/Kondinin area including Kulin Rock and Gnarming in 1905. These and other leases in the area were terminated in 1909/1910 to allow the government to distribute the land for agricultural purposes.
The first land selected for farming in the Kulin area was at Wogolin and Dudinin in January 1909 - extending from the more established areas of Narrogin and Wickepin
. Settlement did not proceed evenly from this direction however as early farmers selected areas with better soils or reliable water sources. This was the case at Kulin Rock with Edward John (Dick) Reardon and Michael Healy arriving there in February 1909 to take up farming land. Much of this activity took place before the official survey at the end of 1909 including James Fitt (previously an overseer for Michael Brown) taking up land adjoining Jilakin Rock and at Jitarning.
Jilakin had been the original name of the location in 1913; in 1915 it was changed to Kulin.
viewing is possible during September and October. The town contains a district high school, a Bendigo Bank
, shopping facilities, accommodation (hotel, motel, caravan park), council offices and a telecentre
. Every year in October, it hosts the Kulin Bush Races.
Kulin also has its own Police Station
which covers the shire and surrounding areas.It has two permanent Police Officers who live in the township who conduct Highway Patrols and provide support to nearby stations.
The town is a stop on the Transwa
bus service to Esperance
.
tins and drums. The characters are from entries into the annual competition http://www.kulin.wa.gov.au/tourism_and_local_events/kulin_bush_races/tin_horse_competition as part of the local race day.
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...
, approximately 280 km from Perth. It is the main town in the Shire of Kulin
Shire of Kulin
The Shire of Kulin is a Local Government Area in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about ESE of the state capital, Perth. The Shire's land area of forms a narrow east-west band, located between the Shire of Kondinin to the north and the Shire of Lake Grace to the south. Its seat...
.
History
The first European known to have visited the Kulin area was Captain John Septimus RoeJohn Septimus Roe
John Septimus Roe was the first Surveyor-General of Western Australia. He was a renowned explorer, and a Member of Western Australia's Legislative and Executive Councils for nearly 40 years.-Early life:...
, Surveyor General of the Swan River Colony
Swan River Colony
The Swan River Colony was a British settlement established in 1829 on the Swan River, in Western Australia. The name was a pars pro toto for Western Australia. In 1832, the colony was officially renamed Western Australia, when the colony's founding Lieutenant-Governor, Captain James Stirling,...
on his 1848-49 expedition to examine the south coast. He encountered a group of Aborigines
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
34 miles east of Nalyaring (near Brookton
Brookton, Western Australia
Brookton is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, Australia, from the state capital, Perth via the Brookton Highway where it crosses the Great Southern Highway. The town is also located on the Great Southern railway line. It is located within, and is the seat of government...
) who guided the expedition party to several water sources, including the Kulin Rock soak
Soakage
A soakage, or soak, is a source of water in Australian deserts.It is called thus because the water generally seeps into the sand, and is stored below, sometimes as part of an ephemeral river or creek system.-Aboriginal water source:...
, before leaving the party at Yeerakine (just south and east of Kondinin
Kondinin, Western Australia
Kondinin is a town located in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, east of the state capital, Perth via the Brookton Highway and State Route 40 between Corrigin and Hyden. It is the main town in the Shire of Kondinin...
) as this was the limit of their territory. These guides used the name 'Coolin' to describe the area now known as Kulin Rock.
In the early years, settlers occasionally encountered groups of Aborigines hunting possum
Possum
A possum is any of about 70 small to medium-sized arboreal marsupial species native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi .Possums are quadrupedal diprotodont marsupials with long tails...
s. Although artifacts such as grinding stones and stone choppers have been found in the district, no signs of permanent occupation were found by early settlers other than the mia-mias built by "Europeanised" Aboriginal shepherds from Narrogin
Narrogin, Western Australia
Narrogin is a large town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, southeast of Perth on the Great Southern Highway between Pingelly and Wagin...
in the employ of Michael Brown.
Michael Brown, a businessman from Narrogin, took up large pastoral leases in the Kulin/Kondinin area including Kulin Rock and Gnarming in 1905. These and other leases in the area were terminated in 1909/1910 to allow the government to distribute the land for agricultural purposes.
The first land selected for farming in the Kulin area was at Wogolin and Dudinin in January 1909 - extending from the more established areas of Narrogin and Wickepin
Wickepin, Western Australia
Wickepin is a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, south-east of Perth and east of Narrogin. At the 2006 census, Wickepin had a population of 244.-History:...
. Settlement did not proceed evenly from this direction however as early farmers selected areas with better soils or reliable water sources. This was the case at Kulin Rock with Edward John (Dick) Reardon and Michael Healy arriving there in February 1909 to take up farming land. Much of this activity took place before the official survey at the end of 1909 including James Fitt (previously an overseer for Michael Brown) taking up land adjoining Jilakin Rock and at Jitarning.
Jilakin had been the original name of the location in 1913; in 1915 it was changed to Kulin.
Present day
Kulin has a population of about 350 and is an agricultural centre for a district whose main activities are wheat and sheep farming. WildflowerWildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
viewing is possible during September and October. The town contains a district high school, a Bendigo Bank
Bendigo Bank
Bendigo Bank is an Australian financial institution, operating primarily in retail banking. The company merged with Adelaide Bank in November 2007, with shareholders voting in March 2008 to change the merged company’s name to Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited.Before the merger, Bendigo Bank...
, shopping facilities, accommodation (hotel, motel, caravan park), council offices and a telecentre
Telecentre
A telecentre is a public place where people can access computers, the Internet, and other digital technologies that enable them to gather information, create, learn, and communicate with others while they develop essential digital skills...
. Every year in October, it hosts the Kulin Bush Races.
Kulin also has its own Police Station
Police Station
Police Station is a American TV series that aired in syndication in 1959. Stories were taken from actual files.- Cast :*Baynes Barron as Sergeant White*Larry Kerr as Detective Chuck Mitchell*Henry Beckman as Detective Stan Abramson...
which covers the shire and surrounding areas.It has two permanent Police Officers who live in the township who conduct Highway Patrols and provide support to nearby stations.
The town is a stop on the Transwa
Transwa
Transwa is Western Australia's regional public transport provider, linking 275 destinations within Western Australia, from Kalbarri in the north to Augusta in the south to Esperance in the east along with the regional centres of Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Northam, Geraldton and Albany.Transwa is...
bus service to Esperance
Esperance, Western Australia
Esperance is a large town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located on the Southern Ocean coastline approximately east-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The shire of Esperance is home to 9,536 people as of the 2006 census, its major industries are tourism, agriculture,...
.
Tin Horses
The roads leading into and through Kulin have a collection of over 100 characters. The largest is 10 m long and stands 5 m high. All the characters are made primarily from lubricantLubricant
A lubricant is a substance introduced to reduce friction between moving surfaces. It may also have the function of transporting foreign particles and of distributing heat...
tins and drums. The characters are from entries into the annual competition http://www.kulin.wa.gov.au/tourism_and_local_events/kulin_bush_races/tin_horse_competition as part of the local race day.
Kulin Bush Races
The Kulin Bush Races is an annual event involving horse races, betting, alcohol and fireworks. It is held on one day, but campers can sleep the night the day before and after the event. All money made from the event is put back into the community.Water Slide
The largest water slide in regional WA. The recently erected Kulin Memorial Slide (a spiral slide) stands over 18m high and is 172 metres longFurther reading
- Greble, William E. (1976). A Bold Yeomanry: Social Change in a Wheat Belt District, Kulin 1848-1970. Perth: Creative Research. ISBN 0-908469-07-1