Dongara, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids DongaraWestern Australia |
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Main Street of Dongara – Moreton Terrace
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 Dongara
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1871 |
| Postcode(s) | 6525 |
| Elevation | 34 m (112 ft) |
| Area | [convert: needs a number] |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Irwin |
| State electorate(s) | Moore |
| Federal Division(s) | Durack |
Dongara is a town in Western Australia. It is about 351 kilometers (218 miles) north-northwest of Perth. The town sits where the Irwin River meets the ocean.
Dongara is the main town for the Shire of Irwin. In 2016, about 3,569 people lived in the shire. Most of them, around 2,782, lived in Dongara and its nearby town, Port Denison.
History of Dongara
The name 'Dongara' comes from the local Wattandee people. Their word Thung-arra means 'sea lion place'. This name was for the river mouth next to the town.
Europeans started settling here around 1853. An early settler, Edward Downes, was a harbor master. He watched for ships passing by. Later, farmers began to settle near the river. A flour mill started working in the 1860s.
In 1871, Dongara was officially surveyed as a town. It became the center for the local council, which is now the Irwin Shire Council. A police station and a public school were also built. Churches, like the Anglican Church of St John the Baptist, were built in the 1880s.
In the 1890s, a bigger flour mill was built. It was near the new Midland Railway line. This railway connected Dongara to Perth. The town grew slowly. By 1901, Dongara had churches, offices, shops, hotels, a school, and a railway station. Nearby areas had wheat and sheep farms. There were also fishermen, including some Chinese men, at Port Denison.
Dongara is also important for its oil and natural gas. This industry began in 1966 when the Dongara Gas Field was found.
The original Dongara railway station was taken down in 1975. This was because the railway line was changed. A new railway line, the Dongara–Eneabba line, was being built. The new line opened in 1975. Part of the new railway line went through a cemetery. So, the remains from that cemetery were moved to the Dongara Cemetery. The Dongara–Eneabba railway line opened in 1976.
Famous People from Dongara
Many interesting people have connections to Dongara.
- Sir David Brand (1912–1979) was born in Dongara. He later became the 19th Premier of Western Australia. The Premier is like the leader of the state government.
- Nathan Broad (born 1993) is an Australian rules footballer. He has won three AFL premierships.
- Robert Bruning (1928–2008) was an actor and film producer.
- Jamie Elliott (born 1992) is also an Australian rules footballer.
- Patricia Kailis (1933–2020) was a geneticist. She lived in Dongara for several years.
- Carmen Lawrence (born 1948) was the 25th Premier of Western Australia.
- Jaeger O'Meara (born 1994) is another Australian rules footballer.
- Roxanne Roux is an AFLW (women's Australian rules football) player.
