Roelands, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Roelands is a town located in the South West region of Western Australia
along the South Western Highway
, between Brunswick Junction
and Bunbury
. At the 2006 census
, Roelands had a population of 811.
's first Surveyor General in 1830, John Septimus Roe
as part of the 5000 acres (20.2 km²) to which he was entitled for bringing considerable capital to the colony. Roe spoke highly of the area and its potential value for agriculture. The first pastoralists and shepherds arrived in the area in the 1880s seeking improved pasture for their stock.
In 1893, a railway station was built here to service the railway line from Pinjarra
to Picton Junction, and was initially called Collie Siding after the nearby Collie River. However, after the gazettal of nearby Collie
in December 1897, and much public argument in the region, Collie Siding was renamed to Roelands. The first big quantity of coal from Collie was carted by road to the Collie Siding and then railed to Perth. The demand on the area from the timber and coal business led to the construction of the Colliefields Hotel.
A school was established in 1903, and in 1916 a private subdivision was undertaken surrounding the schoolsite. In 1963 the subdivision was gazetted a townsite at the request of the Shire of Harvey.
From 1940s-1970s, the Roelands Mission housed Aboriginal
children who had been removed from their families. An estimated 500 children stayed here during the life of the mission, some of whom spent 16 years of their life there. The land was purchased for $1.92m in August 2004 by the Indigenous Land Corporation.
(Highway 20) between Bunbury and Perth via Pinjarra, and the Coalfields Road
(Route 107) to Collie
, Darkan
and Arthur River.
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...
along the South Western Highway
South Western Highway
South Western Highway is a highway in the South West region of Western Australia connecting Perth's southeast with Walpole. It is a part of the National Highway 1 network for most of its length...
, between Brunswick Junction
Brunswick Junction, Western Australia
Brunswick Junction is a town located in the South West of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, between Harvey and Bunbury.-History:...
and Bunbury
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Roelands had a population of 811.
History
The name Roelands relates to a property of the same name granted to the Swan River ColonySwan 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,...
's first Surveyor General in 1830, John Septimus Roe
John 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:...
as part of the 5000 acres (20.2 km²) to which he was entitled for bringing considerable capital to the colony. Roe spoke highly of the area and its potential value for agriculture. The first pastoralists and shepherds arrived in the area in the 1880s seeking improved pasture for their stock.
In 1893, a railway station was built here to service the railway line from Pinjarra
Pinjarra, Western Australia
Pinjarra is a town in the Peel region of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, from the state capital, Perth and south-east of the coastal city of Mandurah. Its local government area is the Shire of Murray. At the 2006 census, Pinjarra had a population of 3,279.Pinjarra is an area...
to Picton Junction, and was initially called Collie Siding after the nearby Collie River. However, after the gazettal of nearby Collie
Collie, Western Australia
-External links:*...
in December 1897, and much public argument in the region, Collie Siding was renamed to Roelands. The first big quantity of coal from Collie was carted by road to the Collie Siding and then railed to Perth. The demand on the area from the timber and coal business led to the construction of the Colliefields Hotel.
A school was established in 1903, and in 1916 a private subdivision was undertaken surrounding the schoolsite. In 1963 the subdivision was gazetted a townsite at the request of the Shire of Harvey.
From 1940s-1970s, the Roelands Mission housed Aboriginal
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....
children who had been removed from their families. An estimated 500 children stayed here during the life of the mission, some of whom spent 16 years of their life there. The land was purchased for $1.92m in August 2004 by the Indigenous Land Corporation.
Present day
Roelands is a small township nestled at the foothills of the Darling Range, and is the meeting point of the South Western HighwaySouth Western Highway
South Western Highway is a highway in the South West region of Western Australia connecting Perth's southeast with Walpole. It is a part of the National Highway 1 network for most of its length...
(Highway 20) between Bunbury and Perth via Pinjarra, and the Coalfields Road
Coalfields Road
Coalfields Highway, formerly known as Coalfields Road, is a Western Australian highway linking Roelands on the South Western Highway with Arthur River on the Albany Highway...
(Route 107) to Collie
Collie, Western Australia
-External links:*...
, Darkan
Darkan, Western Australia
Darkan is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, between Collie and the Albany Highway on the Coalfields Road. It is also the seat of the Shire of West Arthur. At the 2006 census, Darkan had a population of 203.-History:...
and Arthur River.
Further reading
- Talbot, Judy. 1998 Historic Roelands School. (closing after 95 years) South western times 12 November 1998, p.24.
External links
- Map of Roelands (Shire of Harvey)
