Mullewa, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mullewa Western Australia
Jose Street, Mullewa, 2018
Mullewa Location in Western Australia
Established	1894
Postcode(s)	6630
Elevation	281 m (922 ft)
Area	[convert: needs a number]
Location	450 km (280 mi) N of Perth 98 km (61 mi) ENE of Geraldton
LGA(s)	City of Greater Geraldton
State electorate(s)	Moore
Federal Division(s)	Durack

Mullewa is a town in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It is about 450 kilometers (280 miles) north of Perth. It is also 98 kilometers (61 miles) east-northeast of Geraldton.

Mullewa is famous for its many wildflowers in spring. It is one of the few places in Western Australia where the special wreath flower grows. The farms around Mullewa grow wheat and other cereal crops. The town is also a place where farmers can deliver their grain to Cooperative Bulk Handling.

History of Mullewa

European settlers first came to the Mullewa area in 1869. They came to set up farms and raise animals. In 1894, the government built a narrow gauge railway line from Geraldton to Mullewa. The town was officially recognized and named in the same year.

The town's name comes from Mullewa Spring. This spring was named by surveyor John Forrest in 1873. The name is based on an Aboriginal word. Its exact meaning is not fully known. However, most people believe it means "place of fog".

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church

The Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and the Holy Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul is a special building in Mullewa. An architect and priest named Mgr John Hawes designed and built it. He did most of the work himself, with help from local people.

Work on the stone and tile church began in 1921. It was finished in 1927, even with some breaks in construction. The church has a unique design. It shows some ideas from the Spanish Mission style of building. Hawes also built a house for himself next to the church. This house is called the Priesthouse. It was finished in 1929. Since 1980, the Priesthouse has been used as a museum.

• Images of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel complex
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  The Church, front

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  Gargoyle on the Church

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  Church, side view

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  Priesthouse and Church

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  Priesthouse, street view

Mullewa's Railway Connections

Mullewa was once a very important place for trains. One of the Western Australian Government Railways' overnight passenger trains from Perth was even called The Mullewa. This train stopped running in 1974.

Railway Junction

Mullewa was a major railway junction. This means it was a place where several railway lines met. From Mullewa, trains could go west to Geraldton on the Geraldton to Mullewa railway line. They could also go northeast to Meekatharra on the Mullewa–Meekatharra railway. Another line went south to Northam on the Avon Yard to Mullewa railway line.

Transporting Iron Ore

Even after some lines closed, Mullewa remained important for transporting goods. For example, iron ore from the Tallering Peak mine was brought to Mullewa. It traveled about 65 kilometers (40 miles) by road. Once in Mullewa, the ore was loaded onto railway wagons. These wagons then carried the ore 107 kilometers (66 miles) west-southwest to Geraldton. From Geraldton, the iron ore was loaded onto large ships.

Media Services

People in Mullewa can access various radio and television services.

Radio Stations

Here are some of the radio stations available in Mullewa:

• ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt (828 AM) – This is part of the ABC Local Radio Network.
• ABC Radio National (99.7 FM) – This station offers special talk shows and music.
• Triple J (98.9 FM) – This station plays alternative music.
• ABC News Radio (101.3 FM) – This station provides constant news updates. It also has news programs and live coverage from Parliament.
• WAFM (96.5 FM) – This station plays Top 40 music.
• The Spirit Network (98.1 FM / 1512 AM) – This station plays classic hits and adult contemporary music. It is aimed at listeners aged 35 and older.
• Radio Mama (100.5 FM) – This is a local Indigenous community radio station.

Television Channels

Free-to-air television services in Mullewa include:

• Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) – This includes channels like ABC1, ABC2, ABC3, and ABC News 24. These are digital channels.
• Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) – This includes SBS One, SBS Two, and SBS HD. These are also digital channels.
• WIN Television – This channel shows programs from both the Nine Network and Network Ten.
• GWN7 (Golden West Network) – This channel shows programs from the Seven Network.

The TV schedules are mostly the same as in Perth. However, there are some differences for local news. There are also different sports broadcasts, like the Australian Football League and National Rugby League. Sometimes, there are also different children's shows and lifestyle programs. GWN7 creates a 30-minute regional news program every weekday. This news program covers the local area and is made in Bunbury. It has a newsroom in Geraldton.

Mullewa's Climate

Mullewa has a semi-arid climate. This means it is quite dry. Summers are hot, and winters are mild to cool. The town usually has dry summers and wetter winters. This gives its climate some features of a Mediterranean climate.