Yarloop, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids YarloopWestern Australia |
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The Yarloop Town Hall, mostly destroyed by the 2016 fire, but since rebuilt
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 Yarloop
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1894 |
| Postcode(s) | 6218 |
| Elevation | 23.4 m (77 ft) |
| Area | [convert: needs a number] |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Harvey |
| State electorate(s) | Murray-Wellington |
| Federal Division(s) | Forrest |
Yarloop is a small town in the South West of Western Australia. It is located along the South Western Highway, between the towns of Waroona and Harvey. In 2016, about 395 people lived there. On January 7, 2016, a big bushfire sadly destroyed most of Yarloop.
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History of Yarloop Town
The name Yarloop might come from "yard loop." This was a railway loop that went into a timber yard. However, the name is probably from the Aboriginal people. It could come from the local Bindjareb Noongar language. A place called Yalup Brook is about 5 kilometers north of Yarloop. The names sound similar, which supports the Aboriginal origin.
Early Settlers and Timber Industry
In 1849, Joseph Logue came to this area. He started farming near Cookernup. Later, W. J. Eastcott arrived. He collected bark from river red gum trees. He also cut timber for other settlers. John Bancells came to the area in 1886.
In 1894, Charles and Edwin Millar moved here. They wanted to use the jarrah trees nearby. They had already sent jarrah wood to London for street paving. Soon, they built their own timber town. It was about 300 acres in size. The town had places to live and other services. It was located 2 kilometers south of a planned government town. The company wanted to keep control over its workers.
Not everyone wanted to live in the company town. So, a company town grew on one side of the railway. A public town grew on the other side. A siding (a short railway track) was built in 1896. This siding was part of the Perth-Bunbury Railway.
Yarloop Becomes a Timber Hub
In 1901, the Millars made Yarloop the center of their timber business. The town became even more important in 1905. That year, they closed their mills in Denmark. At their busiest, they had over 500 people working in the Yarloop area. By the 1930s, they had the largest private railway in the world. It had eight railway systems and 25 locomotives.
The timber mill, first called the Waigerup mill, is still working today. In 1984, the mill town was named a conservation area. This was done by the National Trust. Now, the Yarloop Conservation Plan (1998) protects it. The Heritage Council manages this plan. The town was officially recognized in 1962.
Yarloop in Modern Times
Yarloop became home to many different people. There were citrus growers, dairy farmers, and vegetable growers. People who worked in other towns also lived there. Before the 2016 bushfire, the town center had many old timber buildings. It also had the historic steam workshops. These workshops had many working steam engines. They also showed the tools used to fix 25 steam locomotives.
There is a heritage trail around the old mill town. This trail is in the conservation area. The town had a primary school, a local shop, and a bowling club. It also had a hotel, post office, and community center. There were different types of places to stay.
The 2016 Bushfire Disaster
On January 7, 2016, a huge bushfire hit Yarloop. It destroyed 121 homes. In just seven minutes, the fire also burned many historic buildings. These included the timber workshops, factories, an old church, and the old hospital. Shops, the hotel, and the fire station were also destroyed. Part of the school was burned too.
Murray Cowper, a local politician, saw the town after the fire. He said it looked "very surreal." He thought it "could well be the end of the town." People who visited Yarloop after the fire said the damage was "apocalyptic." However, Western Australia's Premier Colin Barnett said the town would be rebuilt. Most residents voted to rebuild. On January 9, the remains of two men were found in burned houses.
Public access to Yarloop was allowed again on August 11, 2016. This was seven months after the fire. The roadblocks were removed.
Rebuilding Yarloop
A new community center was built in Yarloop. It used the front part of the original town hall. This new center opened in November 2019.
Travel and Transport
Yarloop is located on the South Western Railway. The Australind passenger train stops here. This train travels from Perth to Bunbury.
| Preceding station |  Transwa |
Following station | ||
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| Waroona
towards Perth
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Australind | Cookernup
towards Bunbury
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Images for kids
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The Yarloop Town Hall, mostly destroyed by the 2016 fire, but since rebuilt
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South Western Highway and Johnson Road entrance to Yarloop after the fires
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Yarloop railway station
