Gairdner, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids GairdnerWestern Australia |
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 Gairdner
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1960 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6337 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 176 m (577 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | [convert: needs a number] | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Jerramungup | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Roe | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor | ||||||||||||||
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Gairdner is a small town and a specific area (called a locality) in the Shire of Jerramungup. This shire is part of the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Gairdner is located between the towns of Jerramungup and Boxwood Hill. You can find it along the South Coast Highway, near a small stream called Devil Creek. This creek flows into the Bremer River.
Contents
Gairdner's Beginnings
How the Town Started
In the 1950s, the government opened up the land around Gairdner for people to settle and farm. The very first building in what would become Gairdner was a primary school. It was built in 1960. Before this school opened, children from the area had to travel to Jerramungup for their lessons. The name "Gairdner" for the town was officially approved by the Minister of Lands in 1978.
How Gairdner Got Its Name
The town of Gairdner is named after the Gairdner River, which is about 25 kilometers to the east. This river was named in 1848 by John Septimus Roe. He was exploring the area at the time.
Roe named the river after Gordon Gairdner. Gordon Gairdner was an important clerk in the British government's Colonial Office. This office handled matters for British colonies, like Australia. He later became the Chief Clerk and also a secretary for a special award called the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. John Septimus Roe also named Mount Gordon and Gordon Inlet (which is at the mouth of the Gairdner River) after Gordon Gairdner.
What Gairdner Produces
The farms in the Gairdner area are very important for growing food. They mainly produce wheat and other cereal crops. Cereal crops include grains like barley and oats. The town of Gairdner also has a special site where farmers can deliver their harvested crops. This site is run by a company called Cooperative Bulk Handling.
