Camballin, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CamballinWestern Australia |
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 Camballin
Location in Western Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 6728 |
| Area | [convert: needs a number] |
| Location | 8 km (5 mi) from Looma |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Derby-West Kimberley |
| State electorate(s) | Kimberley |
| Federal Division(s) | Durack |
Camballin is a small town in the West Kimberley area of Western Australia. It's located on the Camballin Station, about 110 km (68 mi) (68 miles) south of Derby. The town sits between Derby and Fitzroy Crossing. The main farm building, called a homestead, is right in the town.
Camballin was started in the 1950s by the Public Works Department. This government group helped build things for the public. The town was built to support a large farming project. This project was known as the Camballin Irrigation Scheme.
At the 2016 census, Camballin had 729 people living there.
Camballin's History
The town of Camballin was created to help with the Camballin Irrigation Scheme. This big farming project aimed to grow crops using controlled water. However, the scheme later stopped working because of floods.
The town first helped a company called Northern Developments Pty. Ltd. This company started in Sydney in 1951. Their goal was to begin growing rice in 1952. They showed that growing rice was possible in the area. So, in 1957, a 17-mile (27-kilometer) dam was built on the Uralla Creek. This dam helped store three times more water.
Northern Development Ltd chose the name "Camballin" for the town in 1957. The town was built to serve the Liveringa Rice Project. It was named after one of the nearby cattle stations.
The town kept growing when the Australian Land & Cattle Company Limited bought several large farms. They bought Camballin station, Liveringa station, and five other stations in the Kimberley region. This new investment brought many jobs to the area for the next twenty years. The project left a lasting impact on the region.
Where is Camballin?
The town of Camballin is located to the east of the Grant Range. It also lies south of the Erskine Range. These are groups of hills or mountains in the area.
What's in Camballin Today?
Today, Camballin is home to school teachers and other staff. These people work at the nearby Looma Community.
The town has some useful things for residents and visitors:
- A caravan park for travelers.
- A shop, but it does not sell fuel.
- Running water and electricity.
- Phones, including a public pay phone booth.
- Places for mechanical repairs if your car breaks down.
There is also a landfill site nearby for waste. Mobile satellite phone coverage is available. The town even has a rundown outdoor movie theater, called picture gardens. The local power station provides electricity to the nearby communities of Looma and New Looma.
