Tuckanarra, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids TuckanarraWestern Australia |
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 Tuckanarra
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1899 |
| Postcode(s) | 6640 |
| Elevation | 481 m (1,578 ft) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Cue |
| State electorate(s) | North West |
| Federal Division(s) | Durack |
Tuckanarra is a small town in the Shire of Cue in Western Australia. It is part of the Murchison and Mid West regions. The town is located along the Great Northern Highway. You can find it between the towns of Cue and Meekatharra.
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Discovering Gold in Tuckanarra
Gold was found in the Tuckanarra area in 1897. Two prospectors, Boyle and Moore, made this exciting discovery. At first, the place was called Boyle's Find after them.
The first town area was near Boyd's Hill. For a while, people called the town Boyd's. Later, a well at Cork Tree Flat was made deeper. This meant there was enough clean drinking water for everyone. So, the town also became known as Cork Tree Flat.
How the Town Was Formed
In 1898, the government built a state battery here. A battery is a machine that crushes rocks to get gold out. Because of this, local people asked for a proper town to be created.
After some discussion about where the town should be, land lots were measured out in 1898. The townsite was officially declared in 1899.
The name Tuckanarra comes from a nearby hill. It is an Aboriginal word. People believe it means camp of the wooden dish.
Tuckanarra's Railway History
Tuckanarra used to be a stop, called a siding, on the Northern Railway. This railway line connected Mullewa and Meekatharra. The railway line was closed down in 1978.
Future Energy Plans
In 2010, a company called Hyperion Energy bought a large property near Tuckanarra. This property is called Karbar Station. The company plans to build a special power plant there.
This plant would use a solar updraft tower to create electricity. A solar updraft tower uses the sun's heat to make air rise, which then turns turbines to make power. Construction was expected to start in 2014. The project aims to produce 200 megawatts of power.
