Ongerup, Western Australia
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| Ongerup Western Australia |
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 Eldridge Street, Ongerup. |
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| Population: | 119 (2006 census)[1] | ||||||
| Established: | 1912 | ||||||
| Postcode: | 6336 | ||||||
| Location: |
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| LGA: | Shire of Gnowangerup | ||||||
| Region: | Great Southern | ||||||
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Ongerup is a town located 410 km south east of Perth and 54 km east of Gnowangerup in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.
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[edit] History
The name Ongerup means Place of the male kangaroo in the local Noongar language.
The area around Ongerup was first explored by Surveyor General John Septimus Roe who passed through in 1848 and in the 1870s the Moir family moved to the area and began grazing sheep along the Warperup Creek. In 1910 the land was surveyed into 1,000-acre (4 km²) blocks priced at 10 shillings per acre before the townsite was gazetted in 1912.[2] A 94 km railway line from Tambellup to Ongerup was opened in 1913 to serve the growing agriculture industry and closed in 1957. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, kangaroo hunters and mallee bark strippers came to the area. The bark was sent to Germany for use in tanning.[3][4]
In 1983 the Ongerup Shears event was held for the first time. This was a shearing competition that was held on the Queen's Birthday long weekend with international and national shearers competing in the run up to the Perth Royal Show. The event was discontinued in the 1990's.
[edit] Ongerup Today
The 2006 census shows a population of 119 people living in Ongerup.[1] The town is home to a pub, general store, public hall (opened 1953), museum (opened 1978),[5] tyre service, primary school, kindergarten, telecentre,[6] caravan park, police station, ambulance service, 18 hole golf course, sports oval and pavilion and roadhouse.
The closure of the police station was announced in July 2007 although this has yet to be executed.[7]
A war memorial commemorates the 63 Ongerup lives lost in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.[8]
At the sports oval Australian Rules Football, Hockey and Netball are played in winter and Cricket, Tennis and Basketball are played in summer.
[edit] Economy
The town exists to service the local agricultural community. Surrounding farms mainly produce wheat, barley, canola and wool, while lesser quantities of lupins, oats, alfalfa and other crops are also grown. Beef cattle, fat lambs, and pigs are sideline industries.
Grain silos belonging to Cooperative Bulk Handling are located at Ongerup and during harvest time these silos store grain from surrounding farms before it is transported to Albany by road for export.
[edit] Attractions
The town is also home to the Malleefowl Preservation Group and in 2007 the Yongergnow Australian Malleefowl Centre was opened.[9]
The Ongerup Wildflower Show is held in September and October each year. The Ongerup district is known to be home to over 1,300 species of wildflowers.[10]
Ongerup is a stop on the Transwa bus service between Perth and Esperance.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). Ongerup (State Suburb). 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
- ^ Western Australian Land Information Authority. History of country town names - O. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ Shire of Gnowangerup (6 June 2006). Our Towns and History. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ Fairfax Digital (8 February 2004). Travel - Ongerup. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ Collections Australia Network (2006). Ongerup & Needilup District Museum. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ Western Australian Telecentre Network (2003). Complete List of Telecentre Details. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ "Councils join forces to fight police station closures", ABC Great Southern, 9 July 2007. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ Department of Premier and Cabinet (WA) (26 April 2007). Ongerup Roll of Honour. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ The Malleefowl Preservation Group (9 July 2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
*Yongergnow Australian Malleefowl Centre (10 July 2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-17. - ^ The Wildflower Society of Western Australia (Inc.). Wildflower displays in rural Western Australia. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ GE1 timetable (1 November 2006). Retrieved on 17 July 2007.
