Ranford, Western Australia facts for kids

Ranford is a small town located about 3 kilometres (2 mi) north-east of Boddington. It sits along the road that connects Pinjarra to Williams in Western Australia.

The Story of Ranford: How the Town Began

Ranford was officially created as a town in 1936. It was named after Henry Samuel Ranford, an important person in the area's early days.

Who Was Henry Samuel Ranford?

Henry Samuel Ranford was a surveyor who explored the Hotham River area. He was the first to mark out land holdings nearby. In 1884, he became a government surveyor. This meant he worked for the government to measure and map land. He held several important jobs in the Swan River Colony, which was what Western Australia was called back then. He even acted as the Surveyor General, a very high position. Later, in 1897, he moved to Katanning to work as a Government Land Agent.

Ranford's Railway Connection

Ranford was once a stop on the Pinjarra to Narrogin railway line. This railway was important for moving goods and people between towns.

The Tannin Factory: A Big Part of Ranford's Past

In 1936, a company called Industrial Extracts Ltd wanted to build a town where their factory was located. This factory made something called "tanning extracts" from white gum timber. Tanning extracts were used to turn animal hides into leather.

• The factory opened on April 21, 1937. Sir James Mitchell, who was the Lieutenant Governor at the time, officially opened it.
• For the next 20 years, the factory was very busy. It brought many jobs and people to the Ranford area, especially after a tough economic time known as the Depression.
• However, by 1957, the factory had to close down. It had been running almost non-stop for two decades, and its machinery was worn out. Also, most of the white gum timber supply in the area had been used up.
• After the factory closed, the mills were removed. The only original buildings left were the offices, which are now used as private homes.

Life in Early Ranford

Even though Ranford had a boarding house for people to stay, it depended on the nearby town of Boddington for many services. People in Ranford would go to Boddington for shopping and for their children's education.

Ranford Today: What's There Now?

Today, Ranford is mostly a historic place. You can still see a few old cottages and the area where the factory used to be. The old factory site is now used to store grain. If you visit, you can also find a large pool at the end of River Road, which is a popular spot for canoeing and other water activities.