Wagin, Western Australia

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Wagin
Western Australia

Giant Ram at Wagin (see Australia's Big Things).
Population: 1,246 (2001 Census)
Established: 1890s
Postcode: 6315
Elevation: 303 m
Location:
LGA: Shire of Wagin
Federal Division: O'Connor
State District: Wagin
Max Temp Min Temp Rainfall
22.8 °C
73 °F		 9.7 °C
49 °F		 436.1 mm
17.2 in

Wagin (33°18′S 117°20′E; post code: 6315) is a town and shire in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately 225km south-east of Perth on the Great Southern Highway between Narrogin and Katanning. It is also on State Route 107. The main industries are wheat and sheep farming.

Contents

[edit] History

The name of the town is derived from Wagin Lake, a usually dry salt lake south of the town. The name is Aboriginal, having been first recorded for the lake by a surveyor in 1869-72. There is uncertainty about the actual meaning of 'Wagin' but it is likely that it either means 'the place where emus watered' or is a variation of 'wedge-an' an Aboriginal word for 'emu'.

The first European explorer through the area was John Septimus Roe, the Surveyor General of Western Australia in 1835 en route to Albany from Perth. Between 1835 and 1889 a few settlers eked a simple living by cutting sandalwood and shepherding small flocks of sheep. Land was granted to pastoralists in the Wagin area from the late 1870s onwards.

The town itself came into existence after the construction of the Great Southern Railway which was completed in 1889 with the town originally called Wagin Lake. In 1898 Wagin was proclaimed a town with the word Lake dropped.[1]

[edit] Present Day

Wagin is one of the largest towns in the Southern Wheatbelt region, and annually hosts the Woolorama, one of Western Australia's largest Agricultural Shows. The event held in March regularly attracts over 30,000 visitors.

Elevation: 257m above sea level

[edit] References

  1. ^ Department of Land Information. History of country town names - W. Retrieved on 2006-10-27.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: -33.314° 117.344°


Towns in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia

Southern Wheatbelt: Aldersyde | Arthur River | Brookton | Congelin | Cuballing | Darkan | Duranillin | Dwarda | Highbury | Kweda | Narrogin | North Bannister | Piesseville | Pingelly | Popanyinning | Quindanning | Wagin | Wandering | Williams | Yornaning

South Eastern Wheatbelt: Bendering | Bullaring | Corrigin | Dudinin | Dumbleyung | Harrismith | Holt Rock | Hyden | Jitarning | Karlgarin | Kondinin | Kukerin | Kulin | Lake Grace | Lake King | Newdegate | Pingaring | Tincurrin | Wickepin | Varley | Yealering
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