Parkeston, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ParkestonKalgoorlie–Boulder, Western Australia |
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|---|---|
| Postcode(s) | 6434 |
| Area | 51.6 km2 (19.9 sq mi) |
| LGA(s) | City of Kalgoorlie–Boulder |
| State electorate(s) | Kalgoorlie |
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor |
Parkeston is a small outback suburb located in Western Australia. It sits right next to the mining city of Kalgoorlie. It is about 3 kilometres east of the main town centre. In the 2016 Australian census, around 60 people lived there.
The town was officially created in 1904. Leaders named it in honour of Sir Henry Parkes. He was an important politician known as the "Father of Federation" because he helped unite Australia into one nation.
Contents
Discover the History of Parkeston
The Famous Train Junction
Parkeston played a huge role in the history of Australian trains. It is located near the western end of the great Trans-Australian Railway.
Starting in 1917, Parkeston was a very busy stop. Back then, train tracks were built in different widths across different states. Trains coming from Perth on the Western Australian Government Railways ran on narrow tracks. Meanwhile, trains from Port Augusta run by the Commonwealth Railways used wider standard gauge tracks.
Because of this break of gauge, trains could not continue through directly. Passengers had to step off and switch trains. Workers also had to move all the cargo onto new train carriages. This system lasted all the way until 1970, when the track widths were finally made the same. The railway area sits about 375 metres above sea level.
The Quarantine Camp and Newspaper
In 1919, a health quarantine camp was set up at Parkeston. Travellers arriving on trains from Adelaide had to wait there so doctors could stop sickness from spreading. To pass the time, the people staying there made their own fun newspaper called the Yellow Rag. It shared news and stories about the passengers and train crews.
During World War II, Parkeston also had a small military staging camp. Between 1940 and 1947, soldiers held up to 20 people in transit as they moved across Australia.
The Local Community
The Village of Ninga Mia
Parkeston is also home to an Aboriginal community called Ninga Mia. It was built in 1983 by Aboriginal Hostels Limited as a special place to live. It offered shelter to local families as well as visitors coming from the Western Desert.
The village grew to have about 30 houses, a medical clinic, an office, and a computer room. Over time, many of the old buildings became damaged and worn out. Government programs worked to help move residents to updated and safer homes in nearby areas.
