Dattening, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids DatteningWestern Australia |
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 Dattening
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1908 |
| Postcode(s) | 6308 |
| Elevation | 320 m (1,050 ft) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Pingelly |
| State electorate(s) | Wagin |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Dattening is a small town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It is located in the Shire of Pingelly, a local government area. You can find Dattening between the towns of Boddington and Pingelly.
Contents
The History of Dattening
How Dattening Got Its Start
The story of Dattening began in the 1890s. A farmer named Norris Taylor dug a well in this area. Because of his well, the place was first known as Taylor's Well.
Becoming a Town
By 1906, local people wanted a proper town to be built. They asked for the area to be surveyed. This means they measured and mapped out plots of land. In 1907, these land plots were divided up.
The land was then sold in 1908. About 20 plots, called "working men's blocks," were put up for sale. These blocks cost between £8 and £14.
Choosing a Name
The original name, Taylor's Well, could not be used for the new town. This was because another town in South Australia already had the same name. So, a new name was needed.
The Morambine Road Board suggested the name Dattening. This name comes from the Aboriginal people. It was the Aboriginal name for a spring (a natural water source) near the well. We don't know the exact meaning of the name Dattening today.
The town officially became Dattening in 1908. When a town is "gazetted," it means its name and existence are officially published by the government.
Trying to Change the Name
Even after the town was named Dattening, some residents still wanted to call it Taylor's Well. They asked for the name to be changed in 1925 and again in 1929. However, their requests were not successful, and the town remained Dattening.
