Greenough, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids GreenoughWestern Australia |
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Leaning tree, Greenough
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 Greenough
Location in Western Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 6532 |
| Elevation | 21 m (69 ft) |
| Area | [convert: needs a number] |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | City of Greater Geraldton |
| State electorate(s) | Geraldton |
| Federal Division(s) | Durack |
Greenough is a historic town in Western Australia. It is about 400 kilometers north of Perth. The town is also 24 kilometers south of Geraldton. Many of its old buildings are made from local limestone. They were built in the second half of the 1800s. The National Trust of Australia now owns and cares for many of these buildings.
A special sight in Greenough is its windswept trees. Some of these trees are bent almost flat by the strong coastal winds. The Greenough River mouth is about 10 kilometers north of the town.
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Bootenal Springs, a historic water source.
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The Greenough Museum and Gardens.
Contents
Discovering Greenough's Past
Early Aboriginal Life
The rich lands of Greenough were once home to the Yamatji people. They lived a settled life here for a long time. They found food from the river, like fish and birds. They also gathered shellfish from the coast. Game from the hills was another food source. The Yamatji people even grew a yam-like plant called ajeca on the river flats.
Bootenal Springs was a popular camping spot. It had fresh water all year round. This spring later became a place of conflict. It was where Aboriginal people and early European settlers met. Today, the site helps people remember these past events.
European Settlement and Growth
George Edward Grey first explored this area in 1839. He named it Greenough after George Bellas Greenough. George Greenough was a president of a geography society in London. Grey believed the area could grow a lot of food for Western Australia.
In 1851, Augustus Gregory surveyed a large area of land. This land became known as the Greenough Flats. It was divided into smaller farms. This was to encourage English settlers. They were used to smaller farms than those typically found in Australia.
Within a few years, Greenough became a very successful wheat farming area. Over 1,000 people lived there. Several community centers grew, like North Greenough and Central Greenough.
Challenges and Changes Over Time
Greenough faced many problems. A big cyclone hit in 1872. Major floods followed in 1888. Also, gold was discovered in other parts of Western Australia. These events caused many settlers to leave Greenough. By 1900, many small farms were combined into larger ones.
Many large stone buildings were left empty. These had been built when people expected the town to grow. Over the 1900s, many buildings fell into ruin. Modern changes like cars and television also made local places less important. Schools, churches, and police stations closed down. By 2016, only the Anglican and Catholic Churches in Central Greenough were still active. The Hampton Arms Hotel also continued to serve the community.
Protecting Greenough's Heritage
After World War II, people started to see the value of Greenough's history. In 1966, the Geraldton Historical Society opened a museum. It was in an old family home in North Greenough. Soon after, the National Trust of Western Australia began to protect historic sites.
The National Trust bought many historic properties in Greenough. Many were given as gifts. Their goal was to save these important places. They acquired almost the entire village of Central Greenough. They also saved Clinch's Mill, the Greenough Hotel, and Gray's Store. Over the years, the National Trust spent a lot of money to restore these sites.
The "Greenough Hamlet" is now a popular place for visitors. It helps people learn about the region's history. A new Visitor Information Centre opened around 2000.
In 1999, Greenough experienced a rare event. An annular solar eclipse was visible from the area. This is when the moon covers most of the sun, leaving a bright ring.
In 2006, floods damaged Maley's bridge. This historic bridge was important for local travel. It was later repaired and restored. In 2013, a fire badly damaged Maley's mill and store. This was another important historic building.
Important Places in Greenough
Places marked NT are owned or managed by the National Trust.
- Leaning Tree: This famous tree is on the west side of Brand Highway. It is north of the Greenough Hamlet.
- Maley's Mill and Residence: The miller's home is now a local museum. A community group runs it. The mill itself is a ruin after a fire in 2013.
- Greenough Cemetery: This is where many of Greenough's first settlers are buried. The community still uses it today.
- Greenough Hotel (NT): This was once a hotel. It is now a preserved ruin.
- Clinch's Mill (NT) and Cliff Grange (NT): These are a partly ruined flour mill and a large house. They are northwest of the hamlet.
- Greenough Hamlet (NT): This is the village of Central Greenough. It has many stone buildings from the 1800s. Key buildings include the school, police complex, and churches. It is now a tourist spot.
- Maley's Bridge (NT): This bridge was built by convicts. It connects the Brand Highway and Company Road.
- Stone Barn (NT) and Barn Cottage (NT): These buildings are south of Maley's bridge. They show what small homes and outbuildings looked like in the 1850s.
- Mount Pleasant: This farmhouse was home to the Waldeck family. They were important members of the local church community.
- Wesleyan Methodist Chapel (NT): This church building is now a ruin without a roof. It has appeared in many books about Australia's history.
- Gray's Store (NT): This old store has a two-story home attached. You can still see parts of its original sign on the wall. Behind the store is a unique stone water tank.
- Temperance Lodge (NT): These are the stone ruins of a hall. It was a place for social gatherings. An old well is also nearby.
- Hampton Arms Inn: This is a two-story old inn. It still operates today with a bar, restaurant, and rooms.
- St James Church (NT): A small church building on the west side of Brand Highway in South Greenough.
Greenough Wildlife & Bird Park
The Greenough Wildlife & Bird Park is a fun place to visit. It is located at 449 Company Road. The park is open on Fridays and weekends. You can see many Australian native animals here. They also have farm animals.
Some animals you might see include:
- Kangaroos
- Koalas
- Emus
- Ostriches
- Camels
- Alpacas
- Goats and cows
- Horses
- Frogs, snakes, and lizards
- Owls and cockatoos
- Echidnas
- Dingoes
- A huge saltwater crocodile
