List of heritage places in the Shire of Waroona facts for kids

The State Register of Heritage Places is like a special list of important historical spots in Western Australia. It's looked after by the Heritage Council of Western Australia. As of 2023, there are 38 places in the Shire of Waroona that are considered heritage sites. Out of these, four are so important that they are on the State Register of Heritage Places.

Discovering Waroona's Historic Places

The Shire of Waroona has many interesting old places. Some are on a very special list called the State Register of Heritage Places, while others are important to the local area. Let's explore some of them!

Special Places on the State Register

These four places in the Shire of Waroona are considered very important to the history of Western Australia:

• Drakesbrook School: This school was built in 1898. It was once one of only three old, one-room wooden school buildings from before 1900 that were still in their original spot in Western Australia. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire in 2005.

The site of the former Drakesbrook School.

• Hamel Nursery: Built in 1897, this is the oldest surviving plant nursery in Western Australia! It was also known as the Experimental Farm or State Nursery at Drake’s Brook.

A view of the historic Hamel Nursery.

• Primary School - Site of: This is the location where the Drakesbrook School (mentioned above) once stood. It's part of the Drakesbrook School Precinct.

Another view of the Drakesbrook School site.

• Railway Cottages: These cottages were built in 1896. They are the only original timber and iron cottages for platelayers (people who worked on railway tracks) that are still standing in Western Australia.

The historic Railway Cottages in Waroona.

Other Important Heritage Sites in Waroona

Many other places in the Shire of Waroona are also heritage-listed, meaning they are important to the local history, even if they aren't on the State Register. Here are some of them:

• Peel Laundry: This building at 22 Fouracre Street in Waroona was once a drycleaning shop.

The building that used to be the Peel Laundry.

• Waroona Hotel: Located on Fouracre Street in Waroona, this hotel is a local landmark.

The Waroona Hotel.

• Waroona RSL Memorial Hall: This hall on South Western Highway was originally known as the Agricultural Hall.

The Waroona RSL Memorial Hall.

• Former Irrigation Office: Found at 93 South Western Highway in Waroona, this building used to be the Public Works Department Office.

The old Irrigation Office building.

• Former Drakeswood Road Board Office: At the corner of Millar Street and South Western Highway in Waroona, this building later became the Waroona Public Library.

The former Drakeswood Road Board Office.

• Hamel Hall: This hall is on Cornucopia Street in Hamel.

Hamel Hall.

• Waroona Cemetery: Located at 389 Mitchell Avenue in Waroona.

• Waterous Townsite: This refers to the historic townsite of Waterous.

• Wagerup Post Office (Ruins): The remains of the old post office on Marriot Road off South Western Highway in Waroona.

• Lorne House: A historic home at 65 Thatcher Street in Waroona.

• St Patrick's Catholic Church: Found at the corner of Millar Street and South Western Highway in Waroona.

St Patrick's Catholic Church.

• Former Nestle Complex: Located at Lot 400 McLarty Street in Waroona.

• Bonnys Vision Splendid Gardens: Also known as Vision Splendid Gardens or Bonnys Garden Centre, at 335 Parnell Street in Waroona.

• Fouracres Cottage (Ruins): The ruins of a cottage on Old Coast Road in Waroona, once called Peppermint Grove Cottage.

• Masonic Lodge: At 29 Parnell Street in Waroona, formerly known as Drakesbrook Lodge 241.

• Scout/Guide Hall: Located on Fouracre Street in Waroona.

The Scout and Guide Hall in Waroona.

• Lake Clifton Tunnels: These tunnels are on Preston Beach Road within Yalgorup National Park, also known as Yalgorup Tunnels.

• Lime Works: Found on Newnham Road in Yalgorup National Park in Waroona, this was the WA Portland Cement Company.

• Brookside: A place on McNeill Road in Waroona.

• Waroona War Memorial & Memorial Park: At the corner of Parnell Street and South Western Highway in Waroona.

• Waroona Fire Station: Located on South Western Highway in Waroona.

• Former Bank of New South Wales (NSW): At the corner of South Western Highway and Millar Street in Waroona, this building later became a Westpac bank and then Waroona Antiques.

The old Bank of New South Wales building.

• Uniting Church & Hall: Found at the corner of Thatcher Street and Hesse Street in Waroona.

• Waroona Post Office: The original post office at 2 Millar Street in Waroona was demolished in 1980.

• Allendene: A building at 111 South Western Highway in Waroona, once known as Drakesbrook Guesthouse.

• Peel Harvey Estuarine System: This important natural area includes the Peel Inlet near Mandurah.

The Harvey Estuary.

• Yalgorup National Park: Located west of Old Coast Road near Preston Beach.

A sign for Yalgorup National Park.

• Hamel Eco-Historic Precinct: An important historical area on Cornucoppia Street in Hamel.

Part of the Hamel Eco-Historic Precinct.

• Lake Clifton, Peel Region: This lake, known for its unique thrombolites, is on Mt John Road within Yalgorup National Park near Lake Clifton.

Lake Clifton, home to ancient thrombolites.

• Waroona Police Station: Located on Recreation Road in Waroona.

• War Memorial: Another war memorial on South Western Highway in Waroona.

A War Memorial in Waroona.

• Waroona-Lake Clifton Railway: Refers to the historic railway line between Waroona and Lake Clifton.

• Lake Clifton to Codford Railway Line: Another historic railway line in the Waroona area.

• Duplex 16A & B Sutton Street, Waroona: A specific duplex building at 16A & B Sutton Street in Waroona.