Arthur River, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arthur RiverWestern Australia |
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Arthur River Hall on Albany Highway
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 Arthur River
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1850s |
| Postcode(s) | 6315 |
| Elevation | 290 m (951 ft) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of West Arthur |
| State electorate(s) | Roe |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Arthur River is a small town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It sits between the towns of Williams and Kojonup, right on the Albany Highway. It's a place with a rich history and some interesting old buildings.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Arthur River gets its name from the Arthur River. This river flows right through the town. It's also one of the starting points for the bigger Blackwood River.
The river was named in October 1835 by Governor James Stirling. He named it after Arthur Trimmer. Trimmer was part of Stirling's exploring group. He came to Western Australia in 1831.
Early Settlement
In the early 1850s, a new road was built from Perth to Albany. This road was built using the help of people who were sent to Western Australia as part of the convict system.
Small settlements began to appear along this road. These places helped the farmers who had been given land nearby. Arthur River slowly grew into a busy spot.
By the late 1800s, it was a major center in the area. It had a police station and a jail built in 1866. The Mount Pleasant Inn, a hotel, opened in 1869. St Paul's Church was built in 1885. These old buildings are still standing today. The town also had a post office, a blacksmith, a doctor, and a trading store.
Communication and Transport
The town's post office first operated out of the Mount Pleasant Inn. Mary Ann Spratt became the postmistress in 1866. The post office was officially recognized in 1892. That same year, the telegraph line reached Arthur River. The first telephone service started in 1913.
When the Great Southern Railway opened in 1889, things changed. Much of the trade moved to new towns built along the railway line. Many places along the old "Coach Road," like Arthur River, became quieter.
A bridge was built over the Arthur River in 1907. This bridge was located at a spot called Nobles Crossing.
Recent Earthquakes
Arthur River was in the news in January 2022. A series of small earthquakes, called an earthquake swarm, began just north of the town. From January 5 to 25, over 40 small quakes were recorded. One of them was a 4.7 magnitude earthquake. This kind of activity is normal for the South West Seismic Zone region.
Arthur River Today
Today, Arthur River is mainly a place for travelers to stop for fuel. Some of the old, historic buildings are open for tourists to visit.
One of the most important buildings is the Arthur Wool Shed Group. This includes a shearing shed, where sheep's wool is cut, and shearers' quarters, where the workers lived. There's also a sheep dip and a concrete cricket pitch.
The Wool Shed was first built in 1910. In the 1950s, it became a central place for community shearers. It was carefully fixed up between 1999 and 2002. After that, the Heritage Council of WA officially listed it as a heritage site. This means it's an important historical place that needs to be protected.
See Also
- Arthur River (Western Australia)
