Corrigin, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CorriginWestern Australia |
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Campbell Street, Corrigin, 2018
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 Corrigin
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1900s | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6375 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 295 m (968 ft) | ||||||||
| Area | [convert: needs a number] | ||||||||
| Location | 229 km (142 mi) from Perth | ||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Corrigin | ||||||||
| Region | Wheatbelt | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Central Wheatbelt | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor | ||||||||
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Corrigin is a town located in the middle of the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It's about 229 kilometers (142 miles) east-southeast of Perth, the state capital. Corrigin is mainly a farming town, known for growing crops and raising sheep. It also holds a fun world record for "the most dogs in a ute" (a type of pickup truck).
History
The name "Corrigin" comes from the Noongar Aboriginal people. It was first written down in 1877, linked to a water well in the area. We don't know the exact meaning of the name.
Before 1908, Corrigin was only connected to other places by a railway line that went to Merredin. It was hard to convince people to settle near the rabbit proof fence back then. Much of the land was once used by George Walton for grazing animals, managed from his farmhouse at Wogerlin rock.
The first settlers to the area were Mr. A. W. Goyder, followed by Jack Crossland, and then the Gayfer and Jose brothers.
In 1909, the government planned to build a railway from Brookton to a town called Kunjin. Later, another line from Wickepin was suggested. The government decided that Corrigin would be the meeting point for these railway lines.
In 1913, a big storm hit the area. Hailstones larger than 25 millimeters (1 inch) fell. The town was also flooded with over 89 millimeters (3.5 inches) of rain in just a few hours. Crops were flattened, fences were washed away, and most of the town was under at least 60 centimeters (2 feet) of water.
A railway stop was built in 1913 and first called "Dondakin." But after many local protests, it was renamed Corrigin on May 15, 1914. The railway line from Wickepin, Western Australia opened a month later. The main office for the local government, the Road Board, moved to the town. In 1915, a school was built for the children.
By 1932, the Wheat Pool of Western Australia decided to build two large grain storage buildings, called elevators, at the railway stop. These were ready by November 1933, making it easier to handle wheat.
By 1937, Corrigin had a hall, a large state hotel, shops, a bowling green, tennis courts, a golf course, and one of the best showgrounds in the state. However, the town still didn't have a good water system, even though there was plenty of well water, it was very hard (full of minerals).
The wheatbelt suffered from a drought for most of 1939 and 1940. It was called "the worst in the state's history" until heavy rains finally arrived in December 1940. Corrigin received over 117 millimeters (4.63 inches) of rain in a couple of days, breaking the long dry spell.
On New Year's Day in 2013, another strong storm hit Corrigin. Winds and 60 millimeters (2.4 inches) of rain caused damage. Power lines fell, trees were uprooted, sheds were torn apart, and roofs were ripped from homes.
Present Day
Corrigin has a population of 903 people. It is an important farming hub for the area, mainly focusing on growing wheat and raising sheep. It's home to a CBH management office, which helps with grain handling. In 1973, a large "type B" wheat bin was built here for storing grain.
The town has a district high school, which first opened as a primary school in 1915. You can also find a National Australia Bank branch, shops, places to stay (like a hotel, motel, and caravan park), council offices, and a telecentre (a place with computers and internet access). Every year, Corrigin hosts an agricultural show, which is a big event for the farming community.
The town is a stop for the Transwa bus service, which travels to Esperance.
Just east of town is a large rocky hill called Corrigin Rock.
About 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of town, you can visit the Corrigin dog cemetery. It's a special place where over 80 beloved dogs have been buried.
Climate
| Climate data for Corrigin | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 44.9 (112.8) |
46.5 (115.7) |
42.8 (109.0) |
37.1 (98.8) |
33.3 (91.9) |
24.8 (76.6) |
23.5 (74.3) |
29.0 (84.2) |
33.1 (91.6) |
38.3 (100.9) |
41.7 (107.1) |
43.9 (111.0) |
46.5 (115.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32.5 (90.5) |
31.5 (88.7) |
28.9 (84.0) |
24.3 (75.7) |
19.7 (67.5) |
16.4 (61.5) |
15.3 (59.5) |
16.4 (61.5) |
19.1 (66.4) |
23.1 (73.6) |
27.0 (80.6) |
30.4 (86.7) |
23.7 (74.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.8 (60.4) |
16.0 (60.8) |
14.3 (57.7) |
11.2 (52.2) |
7.6 (45.7) |
5.9 (42.6) |
4.9 (40.8) |
4.7 (40.5) |
5.7 (42.3) |
8.2 (46.8) |
11.3 (52.3) |
14.0 (57.2) |
10.0 (50.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 7.0 (44.6) |
6.5 (43.7) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
3.9 (39.0) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 16.9 (0.67) |
16.2 (0.64) |
21.0 (0.83) |
23.0 (0.91) |
47.2 (1.86) |
60.2 (2.37) |
59.9 (2.36) |
47.3 (1.86) |
30.0 (1.18) |
21.1 (0.83) |
16.5 (0.65) |
13.1 (0.52) |
372.5 (14.67) |
| Average precipitation days | 2.5 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 5.1 | 9.5 | 12.6 | 14.2 | 12.3 | 9.3 | 6.4 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 84.8 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 27 | 30 | 33 | 42 | 51 | 60 | 61 | 56 | 49 | 36 | 30 | 27 | 42 |
