Lake Grace, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Grace Western Australia
Stubbs Street, the main street in Lake Grace
Lake Grace Location in Western Australia
Established	1911
Postcode(s)	6353
Elevation	286 m (938 ft)
Area	[convert: needs a number]
Location	345 km (214 mi) ESE of Perth 119 km (74 mi) east of Wagin
LGA(s)	Shire of Lake Grace
State electorate(s)	Roe
Federal Division(s)	O'Connor
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 23.2 °C 74 °F 10.1 °C 50 °F 353.3 mm 13.9 in

Lake Grace is a small town in the eastern Wheatbelt area of Western Australia. It's about 345 kilometers (214 miles) southeast of Perth. The town is located along State Route 107, between the towns of Wagin and Ravensthorpe. It is the main town in the Shire of Lake Grace. In 2016, Lake Grace had a population of 507 people.

History of Lake Grace

The land around Lake Grace was first used for farming around 1911. A school was built in 1913 and was named Lake Grace, after a nearby lake. In 1914, the government planned to extend the railway line to Lake Grace. Local farmers asked for a town to be officially created at the end of the railway line.

The railway was finished on November 25, 1916. It ended near where the school already was. The town of Lake Grace was officially named later in 1916. The railway line was later extended to Newdegate in 1926. Another branch line from Lake Grace to Hyden opened in 1933. This made Lake Grace an important railway junction.

The Australian Inland Mission Hospital

In 1922, a minister named John Flynn visited Lake Grace. He wanted to see if it was a good place for an Australian Inland Mission (AIM) hospital. The Western Australian Government agreed to help pay for the hospital. The AIM built it, and it opened in April 1926. Two nurses, Olive Bennett and Helen Cousin, worked there.

In 1934, the local Lake Grace Hospital Board took over the hospital. It served a large area of about 26,000 square kilometers (10,000 square miles). The hospital even had a special section for mothers having babies. The hospital stopped working in 1952 when the new Lake Grace Memorial Hospital was built.

By 1983, the old AIM hospital building was in bad shape. The government planned to knock it down. But people who used to work there and local community members protested. They saved the building! With help from the Lake Grace Shire Council and the community, the building was fixed up and became a museum.

Lake Grace Australian Inland Mission Hospital Museum

This building is one of only three Australian Inland Mission hospitals still standing. It is now listed on local, state, and national heritage lists.

The lake that the town is named after was called Lake Grace in 1910. It was named after Grace Brockman (who was born Grace Bussell). She was the wife of the Surveyor General, Frederick Brockman. Grace became famous in 1876 when she and a stockman named Sam Isaacs saved many people from a shipwreck. This happened near the mouth of the Margaret River.

Lake Grace Today

Lake Grace is in a useful location, acting as a "crossroads." It is halfway between Perth and Esperance. It's also a main stopping point for people traveling between Albany and the Wheatbelt region. Many tourists use these routes when driving to and from other states in Australia.

The farms around Lake Grace grow wheat and other cereal crops. The town has a special place where farmers can deliver their grain. This is called a receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling.

Recently, the town has made some improvements. These include a "Multi Art Space" and a visitor center in the old station master's house. The town also looks nicer now. New homes and areas for businesses are being built. More than 130 local businesses are working together to improve the local economy.

Local artists have added a new creative side to the town. The "Multi Art Space" lets local people learn and join in art projects. Many of the artworks are made from recycled materials, like plastic bags and bottle tops. Some local artists have even won awards. For example, Kerrie Argent won an award in 2010 for her sculpture made from recycled materials.

The Lake Grace Visitor Centre is open five days a week. It is located in the old station master's house, which local people helped restore in 2005. You can find local information, learn about Lake Grace's history, and see products made by local people. The area around Lake Grace has some of the most diverse plants in the world.

Local people also helped fix up the old AIM hospital. It is now a museum that shows how healthcare was provided before 1960.

Lake Grace has a district high school. Students in years 11 and 12 can do distance learning. There is also a district hospital, a childcare center, and a medical center with a doctor and other health services.

The town has two banks: Bankwest and Rabobank. There are also shopping facilities, including an IGA supermarket, a butcher, and two cafes. You can also find a hardware store, an electrical contractor, and a plumber. A community pharmacy opened in 2014.

Lake Grace offers many fun activities. There's a 50-meter swimming pool and a sports complex. You can play football, cricket, tennis, basketball, and hockey. The Sportsman's Club has a special bowling surface for year-round bowls. There is also a golf club and an airstrip.

For travelers, there's a hotel-motel, a roadhouse, and the Salt Bush Inn motel. The Lake Grace Caravan Park is also available. You can also find several B&Bs in the area.

The local shire council office is based in Lake Grace. There is also a Community Resource Centre (telecentre). The Transwa bus service from Perth to Esperance stops in Lake Grace three days a week.

Geography

Climate of Lake Grace

Lake Grace has a dry climate, which is called a steppe climate. This means it gets very little rain.

Natural Disasters in Lake Grace

On October 16, 2005, a hail storm hit Lake Grace. It destroyed 500 hectares (1,235 acres) of wheat and barley crops. Another 5,500 hectares (13,590 acres) were damaged. Some farmers said their fields were covered by up to 25 cm (10 inches) of hail. The storm also brought about 60 mm (2.4 inches) of rain.

On January 13, 2006, the town was flooded by Cyclone Clare. Lake Grace received 230 mm (9 inches) of rain that day. The State Government declared it a disaster zone. Just over two weeks later, the town got another 30 mm (1.2 inches) of rain from Cyclone Emma. Large pumps were brought in to help dry out the flooded roads. The main highway to Perth was reopened six weeks later. Lake Grace usually gets about 353.3 mm (13.9 inches) of rain each year.

Famous People from Lake Grace

• Nat Fyfe, an AFL player who won the Brownlow Medal in 2015 and 2019.
• Cale Morton, an AFL player.
• Belinda Smith, an AFLW player.