Cunderdin, Western Australia

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Old Railway Water Tower, Cunderdin.
Old Railway Water Tower, Cunderdin.

Cunderdin is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia 156 km east of Perth,[1] on Great Eastern Highway.

According to the census in 2001 it had a population of 1,416.[2] By the official census of 2004 the population had dropped to 1,305.[3] The ABC reported on this phenomenon as reflecting global demographic changes within agricultural areas, since fewer people are needed using modern day farming methods.[4]

Contents

[edit] History

Cunderdin like many small towns in the area 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.

[edit] 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 1 of the 6 campuses of the Western Australian College of Agriculture. There are approximately 110 students supported by 50 staff and their families.[5]

Cunderdin Airstrip is situated next to the agriculture college.[5] It was built early in the Second World War as a base for the RAAF flying school and bomber base.[6]

[edit] 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, Canola and also livestock. There is also great livestock production. The Jolma Poll Dorest Stud, run by Perry Jasper and Co. has been very successful when competing in exihibtion shows in Perth and Adelaide.

[edit] Places of interest

Ettamogah Pub, Cunderdin.
Ettamogah Pub, Cunderdin.
  • Cunderdin Museum [7]
  • Youndegin - 19 km south of Cunderdin are 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 Doonananning
  • Cunderdin Town Oval
  • 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.[8]

Visitors cannot help but notice the large Ettamogah theme hotel and pub when driving through the town. 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,[9] The Sunshine Coast, Queensland and Morley.

Cunderdin also serves as a stop on the Prospector and Avonlink rural train services.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Cunderdin Merredin & Districts Visitor Centre, 2005. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  2. ^ Population by Age www.wheatbeltacc.com.au (Source: 2001 Census). Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  3. ^ National Regional Profile : Cunderdin (S) (Local Government Area) www.abs.gov.au, 2006-11-13. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  4. ^ Cunderdin loses 8.5% of its population in 12 months www.abc.net.au, 26 July 2005. Retrieved 2007-02-11
  5. ^ a b Cunderdin Western Australia Police 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  6. ^ Cunderdin www.raaf.gov.au. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  7. ^ An alphabetical list of Museums in the wheatbelt. Merredin & Districts Visitor Centre, 2005. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  8. ^ Cunderdin Daviesia (Daviesia cunderdin) Recovery Plan 1999-2002 Environment Australia, June 1999. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  9. ^ Postcard from the Ettamogah Pub travelsnapz.tripod.com. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  10. ^ New AvonLink train rolls into service for the first time www.pta.wa.gov.au, 2005-08-01. Retrieved 2007-02-11.

[edit] External links

Preceding station   Transwa Trains network   Following station
towards East Perth
 Avonlink
East Perth - Merredin
towards Merredin
Prospector
towards Kalgoorlie