WAGIN - POPULATION: 1,845

OPEN CUT COAL MINE ON THE WAY TO DARKIN

SUNDAY 24.11.2013: From forest to Wheatbelt - Darkan (population 490), was originally settled by William John Gibbs and his family in the 1860s. Gibbs established a property called "Darkan", using a local Aboriginal name which means Black Rock. The townsite developed when the Collie to Narrogin railway line was built, and in 1906, the townsite was gazetted.

HERITAGE BOWELLING TRAIN
STATION

Six Mile Cottage was built in 1929 by Richard Strange for his brother-in-law Joseph Symonds.


SIX MILE COTTAGE

Went in search of Darkan Station and found the Lions Club Back of the Boot Sale. Pack up had begun, but as soon as they saw "business" all sat down and waited for our approach. Purchased herbs, books and a Christmas plate, plus of course a sausage sandwich.

HERITAGE DARKAN TRAIN
STATION



BACK OF THE BOOT SALE -
AS WE LEFT!



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arthur River (population 381), is named after the river that flows through it. The river was named by Governor James Stirling in 1835 after Mr Arthur Trimmer who was a member of the exploring expedition led by the Governor. Following the introduction of convicts in Western Australia labour to the Swan River Colony in the early 1850s, the road from Perth to Albany was completed and a number of small settlements sprang up along it to support pastoralists who had been granted grazing leases in the area from as early as 1854. Arthur River gradually developed into a thriving centre with a police barracks and gaol (1866), the Mount Pleasant Inn (1869), St Paul's Church (1885).

St Paul's church and Old Post Office at Arthur River. Built in 1883 - the church and graveyard are still in use today.

Booked into the Wagin Showground. $8.00 per night with power, water, dump point, garbage bins and endless fields to park in - perfect!

'BART', THE RATHER WELL ENDOWED G-I-A-N-T RAM AT WAGIN 
9 TIMES THE SIZE OF A LIVE RAM