Jennacubbine, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids JennacubbineWestern Australia |
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 Jennacubbine
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1902 |
| Postcode(s) | 6401 |
| Elevation | 187 m (614 ft) |
| Area | [convert: needs a number] |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Goomalling |
| State electorate(s) | Moore |
| Federal Division(s) | Durack |
Jennacubbine is a small town in the Wheatbelt area of Western Australia. It is located east of Perth, between the towns of Northam and Goomalling.
Contents
History of Jennacubbine
The name Jennacubbine comes from the Noongar language. It was the name for a local water well. Some people think it means "salt water." An explorer named Augustus Gregory first wrote down the name in 1848 as "Jenacubine." The spelling we use today, "Jennacubbine," became official in 1889.
Jennacubbine started as a stop on the railway line that ran from Northam to Goomalling. This happened in June 1902.
Early Town Life
When Jennacubbine was new, it had a hotel, a general store, two other shops, and eight houses on its main street. The main street even ended right at the hotel's front door! There were also several small huts for railway workers across the train tracks. In 1905, a Catholic church was built. This church was also used as a school until 1911.
Over time, the town became much smaller. By the 1960s, only the hotel, the general store, and one house were left.
The General Store Fire
In 1970, the old general store burned down in a late-night fire. People believed the fire started because of the store's old kerosene refrigerators. The store was over 100 years old when it was destroyed. A fire truck from Goomalling came to help, but its water tanks were empty from a previous fire. Sadly, there was no town water system in Jennacubbine to help put out the blaze.
Even though the state's water authority had planned for Jennacubbine to get town water, and pipes were already in the ground, no buildings or public places like fire hydrants had been connected yet.
Safety at Yarramony Crossing
On July 8, 2000, an accident happened at a train crossing near Jennacubbine on Yarramony Road. A vehicle collided with a train carrying grain. This sad event led the Government to look into ways to make train crossings safer. One important change that came from this was making it a rule for all locomotives (train engines) in Western Australia to have special bright lights called "ditch-lights." These lights help make trains more visible, especially at crossings.
What Jennacubbine Produces
The land around Jennacubbine is very good for farming. Farmers in this area grow wheat and other cereal crops like barley and oats. The town is also a receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling. This means that farmers bring their harvested crops here, and the grain is collected and stored before being sent to other places.
