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Wundowie, Western Australia facts for kids

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Wundowie
Western Australia
Wundowie is located in Western Australia
Wundowie
Wundowie
Location in Western Australia
Established 1947
Postcode(s) 6560
Elevation 235 m (771 ft)
Area [convert: needs a number]
Location
  • 67 km (42 mi) NE of Perth
  • 33 km (21 mi) WSW of Northam
LGA(s) Shire of Northam
State electorate(s) Central Wheatbelt
Federal Division(s) Pearce

Wundowie is a small town in Western Australia. You can find it between the cities of Perth and Northam. It's located in an area called the Darling Range.

This town was once a very important place. It had a special factory that made iron. Wundowie was also a stop on the Eastern Railway line.

The name Wundowie was chosen in 1907. It comes from a nearby spring called Woondowing Spring. This is an Aboriginal word, and people think it means "to lie down."

How Wundowie Started

Wundowie was built for a special reason. In 1943, the government decided to build a factory there. This factory had a "blast furnace" to make iron. It also had a "wood distillation" plant. This plant turned wood into charcoal, which was needed for the iron factory.

Because of these factories, plans were made to create a whole new town. Land was measured out in 1946. The town of Wundowie was officially opened in 1947.

A Planned Town

The people who designed Wundowie had a cool idea. They based the town on something called the "garden city movement." This means they planned the town carefully. They made sure there were lots of green spaces and a good layout for streets.

The town had special areas for homes, shops, and open parks. The Western Australian Department of Housing helped build the town.

Iron Works and Railway

The factory that made iron, called the charcoal iron works, started making products in 1948. A year later, in 1949, the railway station in Wundowie opened. This made it easy to transport the iron.

In 1974, the factory was sold to a company called Agnew-Clough Ltd. They made some upgrades to the plant. However, by 1979, it became hard to find enough hardwood timber. This wood was needed for the charcoal. Because of this, the saw mill had to close.

Finally, in 1981, the factory stopped making iron completely. The railway line continued to run to Wundowie for a while, even after the main route changed in 1966.

Getting Around Wundowie

You can get around Wundowie using local transport.

Bus Services

  • The 331 bus route connects Wundowie to Mundaring.
  • This bus travels along streets like Hawke Avenue, Boronia Avenue, Zamia Terrace, Banksia Avenue, and Werribee Road.
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