Wooroloo, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WoorolooWestern Australia |
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| Established | 1900s | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6558 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 330 m (1,083 ft) | ||||||||
| Location | 61 km (38 mi) from Perth | ||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Mundaring | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Swan Hills | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Hasluck | ||||||||
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Wooroloo is a small town located near Perth, in the eastern part of the Shire of Mundaring. It's a quiet place, a bit outside the main city area. In 2021, about 2,613 people lived there.
Contents
A Look Back: Wooroloo's History
Wooroloo has an interesting past, starting with its name and growing from a timber area to a small town.
How Wooroloo Got Its Name
The name "Wooroloo" comes from a word in the Noongar language, which is the language of the Aboriginal people who have lived in this area for thousands of years. The name was first written down in 1841.
Early Days: Timber and Railways
In the 1880s, a company called Byfield Brothers started a timber mill here. This mill helped create a stopping point for the Eastern Railway in 1893, which was first called Byfield's Mill. Later, in 1897, it was renamed Wooroloo.
Growing as a Community
As more people came to work and live, Wooroloo started to grow.
- A school opened on August 22, 1903, with 22 students and one teacher.
- A community hall was built in 1904, with help from people in nearby Chidlow.
- The town area of Wooroloo was officially recognized in 1913.
From Hospital to Prison
In 1915, a special hospital called the Wooroloo Sanatorium was built. It helped people with serious lung diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy. By the 1960s, these diseases were less common, so the hospital became a general hospital for the local area. In 1972, it was changed again, this time into a prison.
The Story of El Caballo Blanco
In the 1970s, a businessman named Ray Williams traveled the world looking for the perfect horses to bring to Australia. He found beautiful Andalusian horses at a show in London. In 1971, he bought a special stallion named "Bodeguero" and five purebred mares from Spain. He then started the first Andalusian horse farm in Australia right here in Wooroloo. This farm, called "Bodeguero Stud," later became part of El Caballo Blanco, which is now known as El Caballo Resort.
Wooroloo Today: What's There?
Today, Wooroloo is a small community with some important facilities and a connection to its past.
Community Life
The town has a community hall for events, a general store where you can buy things, a post office, and the primary school that opened over a hundred years ago.
Prisons in Wooroloo
Wooroloo is home to two main prisons in Western Australia:
- The Wooroloo Prison, which is a minimum-security prison.
- The Acacia Prison, which is a medium-security prison.
Interestingly, the swimming pool at Wooroloo Prison is open for local residents to use.
How Many People Live Here?
The population of Wooroloo has changed over the years:
- In 1991, there were 761 people.
- In 1996, the population grew to 853 people.
- By 2021, the population was 2,613.
Wooroloo Brook: A Local Waterway
The area also has a natural water source called the Wooroloo Brook. This brook starts in the Wooroloo area and flows through the landscape.
Getting Around: Transport in Wooroloo
Wooroloo has been connected by transport for a long time, from old railways to modern buses.
Railway History
From 1897 to 1965, Wooroloo was a railway station on the Eastern Railway. It was about 36 miles (or 58 kilometers) from Perth.
Bus Services Today
Today, you can get to Wooroloo by bus.
- The 328 Transperth bus runs three times on weekdays from Midland. The trip takes about 50 minutes.
- The 331 bus also has two trips on weekdays from Mundaring, taking about 35 minutes.
All these bus services are run by a company called Swan Transit.
Bus Routes
