Beverley, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BeverleyWestern Australia |
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Beverley Town Hall in 2018
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 Beverley
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1868 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6304 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 232 m (761 ft) | ||||||||
| Area | [convert: needs a number] | ||||||||
| Location | 133 km (83 mi) SE of Perth | ||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Beverley | ||||||||
| Region | Wheatbelt | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Central Wheatbelt | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Pearce | ||||||||
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Beverley is a friendly town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It's about 133 kilometers (83 miles) southeast of Perth, the state capital. You can find Beverley between the towns of York and Brookton along the Great Southern Highway. It's also on the Great Southern railway line.
Contents
Discovering Beverley's Past
How Beverley Got Its Name
People believe Beverley was named after a town in Yorkshire, England. Some of the first explorers of the Avon valley came from there. One of these early explorers was Charles Simmons, who owned land in the area.
Early Days and Growth
Land was set aside for the town of Beverley way back in 1831. This was only two years after the Swan River Colony was started. Governor James Stirling received a great report about the area from Ensign Robert Dale. Dale visited the York-Beverley area three times. The district was officially surveyed in 1843.
Settlers began to arrive in the 1860s, and the town was officially started in 1868. However, Beverley really began to grow when the Great Southern Railway arrived in 1886. When the railway was finished in 1889, connecting to Albany, Beverley became a very important center. By early 1898, about 190 people lived in the town.
Beverley in the 1900s
In 1908, Beverley got its water supply from the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme. Before World War I, the town was bustling! It had four hotels, four banks, two bakeries, and many other shops. A new town hall opened in 1938.
However, after the 1950s, things changed. Better transport and farming methods meant fewer people were needed in the area. The population of the Shire of Beverley went down. Some banks and services closed. But now, the population is growing again! Many people like living in the countryside close to Perth.
Beverley Today: What's It Like?
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Beverley is located on the Great Southern Highway, about 133 kilometers (83 miles) southeast of Perth. It helps support the farms around it.
Things to See and Do
Every August, Beverley hosts a fun agricultural show. You can also visit a museum, which used to be the Settlers Arms Hotel. It shows off local history. The town has a town hall, a district high school, a bank, and places to shop. You can find places to stay like a hotel, a bed and breakfast, and a caravan park. There are also council offices, a hospital, a medical center, and a Community Resource Centre (which runs the library and Visitor Centre). Beverley also has many great sports facilities. The shire even has one of the best-kept ovals in the Avon region.
Avondale Agricultural Research Station
About 10 kilometers (6 miles) northwest of town is the Avondale Agricultural Research Station. It's named after the Avon and Dale rivers that meet nearby. For over 80 years, Avondale has been a big center for farm research. Since 1979, it has also been home to a huge collection of old farm machines. Avondale hosts events throughout the year, like the Ploughing Days in June.
Getting Around and Recent Changes
In 2011, about 1,147 people lived in Beverley. You can see more statistics here. The town is a stop for the Transwa bus service that goes to Albany. Vincent Street, the main street, was updated recently, with the project finishing at the end of 2022.
Beverley's Aviation History
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Beverley has a cool connection to aviation!
The Silver Centenary Aircraft
The Silver Centenary is Western Australia's oldest airplane that still exists. It was built to celebrate the state's 100th birthday in 1929. The amazing part? It was built from chalk drawings sketched right on the floor of the town's power station!
Gliding in Beverley
For the last forty years, the Beverley airfield has been home to the Beverley Soaring Society. This is one of the biggest gliding clubs in Australia, with 120 members! The club started in 1973.
As of December 2013, the club had three two-seat planes for training. They also had two single-seat gliders and two Piper Pawnee Tugs (planes that pull gliders into the air). Many members also own their own gliders, with about thirty-five private gliders stored at the airfield. Club members often compete in gliding events at local, state, and national levels. They even hold several State and National records for gliding distance, height, and speed!
Sports and Fun in Beverley
Beverley hosts an annual Easter tennis tournament from March 25th to 28th.
The town is also home to the Beverley Football Club. They play in the Avon Football Association.
Famous People from Beverley
