Gingin, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids GinginWestern Australia |
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Water Wheel in Gingin park, from the original flour mill in Gingin
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 Gingin
Location in Western Australia
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| Population | 852 (2016 census) |
| Established | 1883 (town declared) |
| Postcode(s) | 6503 |
| Elevation | 96 m (315 ft) |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Gingin |
| State electorate(s) | Moore |
| Federal Division(s) | Pearce |
Gingin is a town in Western Australia, located on the Brand Highway 67 kilometres (42 mi) north of the Perth city centre. It is the council seat for the Shire of Gingin local government area. Gingin had a population of 852 at the 2016 census. The town's economy is mostly based on its agriculture, although there has been an increasing focus on science with the establishment of the Australian International Gravitational Observatory and Gravity Discovery Centre. There is also a small military airfield, RAAF Gingin, located nearby.
Economy
The town is well suited for agriculture with a mild climate and available water sources. The area supports many forms of farming including beef cattle, cereal crops, olives, oranges and mangoes.
In 2003, plans were unveiled to construct the Gravity Discovery Centre near Gingin adjacent to the existing Australian International Gravitational Observatory. A.I.G.O. is part of a worldwide array of observatories, completing the southern arm of the array to obtain three-dimensional measurements of gravitational waves. The public arm of A.I.G.O. - The Gravity Discovery Centre includes a 45 m tower that leans at an angle of 15 degrees that allows students to complete free fall experiments.
In 2006 the Zadko telescope, a robotic optical telescope, was installed into the 'Zadko Dome' near the Gravitational Observatory. The Zadko telescope is used for research on a worldwide scale, scanning the sky for potentially hazardous asteroids, and can be accessed remotely via the internet. It is a joint resource for the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research. It is an equatorial fork-mounted Cassegrain reflector telescope with a primary mirror aperture of 1.007 m and a focal length of 4.0386 m. The telescope's optical design is a hybrid Ritchey–Chrétien.
Gingin is host to the annual British Car Day, held on the third Sunday of May.
Gingin's Australian rules football club plays in the Mortlock Football League.
Transport
Gingin is served by Transwa coaches.
