Pioneers' Pathway - Attractions & History of the Wheatbelt

The charming and historic town of Toodyay, nestled in a peaceful, picturesque valley is located just 85kms from Perth on the Avon River and offers a gateway to the Pioneers Pathway.

Natural Heritage of the Pioneers’ Pathway
The Pioneer Pathway route travels from the jarrah forest of the Avon Valley National Park to the salmon gum, granite rock woodlands of the Merredin district. Along the way explore the jam tree, york gum country of Pelham Reserve at Toodyay.

Half way to Goomalling visit Wongamine Nature Reserve and the delightful rest area 10kms south of Goomalling.

Oak Park, north east of Goomalling, supports an abundance of bird life when the lake has water. Interpretative signage tells the story of the area and makes a great picnic spot. Enjoy more nature when taking the Tin Dog Creek Walk Trail and Bird Hide in Dowerin. Walking the trail will give an insight into the flora and bird life of the Wheatbelt. Further east along the Pioneers’ Pathway take a break at Namalcatchem Nature Reserve, a typical Wheatbelt woodland on heavier soils. Between Wyalkatchem and Merredin there are numerous granite outcrop reserves to explore just off the Pathway. Billyacatting Nature Reserve north of Kununoppin, Eaglestone Rock near Lake Brown and Talgomine Reserve in the Nungarin Shire are just a few. At Merredin, The Peak and Totadgin Conservation Park both have interpretive walk trails.

GOOMALLING

The picturesque town of Goomalling is located 132 kilometres north east of Perth in the Avon Valley arc. This progressive and friendly Shire, with a population of approximately 1,000 people, was once widely inhabited by the Koomal Possum, from which the name Goomalling was derived.

The district was surveyed in 1854 by assistant surveyor Austin, and the Benedictine Monks of New Norcia held extensive grazing rights in the area. Goomalling’s settlement began when George Slater secured a pastoral lease around Goomalling Spring in 1853.

Attractions
Slater Homestead, restored by the Goomalling Shire, symbolises the pioneer experience, developing from a pastoral retreat in the 1850’s to a wayside inn during the gold rush days of the 1880’s. Close by the homestead is the historic well, located on the Goomalling-Merredin road. The heritage of the homestead contrasts with the wheat domes, an innovative engineering feat built in 1994. It is the only structure of its kind in the southern hemisphere and a striking landmark.
Revisit the childhood of days gone by in the refurbished schoolhouse, located in the grounds of the museum. Enjoy scenic views from local lookout points that change with the seasons, offering varied photo opportunities. Experience warm country hospitality at a diverse range of establishments that treat guests to a memorable stay in Goomalling and the Wheatbelt.

DOWERIN

Green in winter, golden in summer, 156 kilometres north east of Perth, has an array of attractions both natural and built providing an entertaining and interesting experience for the visitor.

The first settlement for agriculture was in 1897 with the town established in 1906 once the railway line was extended from Goomalling. More than a century later, agriculture remains the dominant business of the district with grain growing and sheep production for meat and wool.

Attractions
A series of wells dating back 100 years offer an insight into the importance of the route via Dowerin to the Yilgarn goldfields.
Visit the museum to view furnishings, household goods and artefacts from the district complete with a shop in the back yard displaying items related to the businesses of the era.

Explore the natural environment by taking the Tin Dog Creek Walk Trail for a great introduction to the plants and birds of the Wheatbelt. Rusty, the tin dog, stands guard at the west entrance to town. Read how this project was initiated by students at Dowerin District High School and the inspiration behind the idea. Ample parking and picnic facilities are available at the Information Bay which further offers a connection to the main shopping precinct, public toilets and the Tin Dog Walk Trail.

Centenary Park is a lovely area to take a rest and enjoy a picnic lunch. A good variety of play equipment will keep the children amused and for the older ones the Skate Park is next door.

Dowerin’s premier event, the Dowerin Machinery Field Days, are conducted over three days at the end of August each year.

WYALKATCHEM

“Wylie” as it is called by locals, with a population of 630 people is a proud and hospitable wheatbelt town, winner of the title Australia’s Tidiest Town 2003. For a town of its size Wylie is well endowed with services.

Pastoralists were active in the district from the late1860s and they may have been preceded by sandalwood cutters. Permanent settlement began in 1905 with the throwing open of land for selection.

The Yarragin Road, at first a pastoralist’s track, became the Goldfields Road after the discovery of the eastern goldfields and carried a heavy volume of traffic to and from the diggings.

The district lays claim to being the cradle of bulk handling because of the pioneering construction of bulk grain facilities in 1931. Wyalkatchem is now a strategic receival point for Cooperative Bulk Handling and is a far cry from those modest, yet ground breaking facilities of 1931.

Attractions
The town boasts a main street that is an attraction in itself with its blend of historic buildings, murals and landscaping. One of the wheat bins from the 1930s is preserved in the town and houses a large and varied collection of agricultural, transport and railway equipment as part of the Wyalkatchem Museum
The shire has several reserves of remnant vegetation that contain a wide range of species and are particularly attractive in the wildflower season.

TRAYNING

Natural granite outcrops, native flora and fauna, woodlands and panoramas of wildflowers in season are all found in the district 235kms from Perth and 70kms from Merredin.
The area was named after ‘Trayning Well’, derived from two aboriginal names ‘Durri-iring’ or ‘Duranning’ . The words mean ‘to crawl’, and ‘a camping place’ and became known as ’snake crawling in the grass near campsite’.
The gold rush of the 1880’s saw substantial increases in population as people took up farming leases or serviced those travelling through the district to the gold fields. Social life flourished and the first country trotting club in the state was registered in 1923. The original grandstand can still be seen in Trayning.

The Shire has three townships each 11kms apart.
Check out the small roadside museum.
Trayning: The largest of the three towns. Wander around town and see the tree library.
Kununoppin is the town amongst the tall salmon gum trees. Drive around to discover the tin sculptures. Kununoppin has a rural hospital servicing surrounding districts.

Attractions
Attractions are easily accessible but there are limited or no amenities so be prepared and take everything for your picnic.

Billyacatting Hill means ‘Hill’ and was first recorded by HS King in 1889. 27 km east of Trayning, this is a 2,500ha flora and fauna reserve. Car park and walk trail. No overnight camping please. Nearby is the National Trust homestead of Mangowine.

Yarragin Rock, 24kms north-east of Trayning, has twin monoliths rising from a flat granite outcrop visible from a great distance while Whiteman’s Rock is a massive finger-like projection of white quartz located at Moujakine, north-east of Trayning. Gold was discovered here in 1887.

18kms north of Trayning are the gnammas, rock pools formed in granite that collect water. Traditionally gnammas were used by aboriginals as they moved from place to place inland. Birds and other wildlife frequent the rock pools and the perimeters are ideal places to search for orchids, insects and other wildflowers. Typically sun dews occur in these areas, a bizarre plant that digests insects.

NUNGARIN

Nungarin, with a population of a little over 300 people, has an interesting history and vibrant local culture. The first European into Nungarin was Surveyor General J. S. Roe, who on the night of 25 October 1836 made camp at an old native well which years later was to be the focus of the area’s first settlement at Mangowine.

Mangowine Homestead
The homestead, which included an Inn, has been restored by the National Trust and is furnished in the style of the early days. It is well worth a visit. (Closed Wednesday).

McCorry’s Hotel, on the northern boundary of the town, was built in anticipation of the coming of the railway line. It ended up isolated from the main town when a different route was selected.

In 1909, after the decline of the gold rush, a new wave of farmers began to arrive in Nungarin with the establishment of the Civil Servants Re- Settlement Scheme, and Nungarin became a reality.

Attractions
During World War II, Nungarin was the site of a massive Army Base Ordnance Depot, built for a total cost of around 10 million pounds. One of the huge workshops is still in use today, and houses the impressive Nungarin Heritage Machinery and Army Museum. The museum collection includes a rare Dingo scout car, a Stuart tank, Bren gun carrier, various army vehicles, memorabilia and an outstanding 10th Light Horse collection. Other attractions include heritage walks, nature walks, rock climbing at the awe-inspiring granite rock formations throughout the Shire, and the popular Nungarin Markets held on the first Sunday of the each month.

MERREDIN

Merredin, with a population of 3,600 people, is the most substantial settlement in the Central Wheatbelt. In 1836 Surveyor General J. S. Roe described the region as arid and inhospitable. This did not deter the sandalwood cutters and early prospectors. After the water finding expedition by Charles Hunt in the 1860’s, based on the catchments of granite rocks like Merredin Peak, the area began to open up. The gold rush of the 1890’s and the coming of the railway and water pipeline to service the growing city of Kalgoorlie led to the development of the town, which is sustained today by dry land agriculture. Around 40 percent of the State’s wheat is grown within a 100 kilometre radius of the town. The town’s name is derived from the Aboriginal word “merrit-in”, the place of the merrit tree, a eucalypt used to make spears.

Attractions
The Railway Water Tower, which still advertises the formerly locally produced Kalgoorlie Bitter, dates from 1893 and stands sentinel for people arriving in Merredin. Located nearby, the Merredin Museum has a fine exhibition of railway memorabilia. Occupying an old station, it has a working signal box and a beautifully preserved 1897 G117 steam engine. Across Pioneer Park is the Military Museum, where information on other impressive World War II military sites in the town can be obtained. The Cummins Theatre is a heritage-listed building erected in 1928 by the local brewer from the remnants of some demolished Coolgardie pubs. The pressed iron interior is from the Tivoli Theatre in that town. A local tour Wheatblet Discovery Tours offer a late afternoon tour of the town which gives a great insight into the workings of a typical Wheatbelt town. Call the Central Wheatbelt Visitor Centre , Merredin for details.1300 736 283 .

The huge Cooperative Bulk Handling Grain Transfer Terminal is impressive, with a capacity of 400,000 tonnes and the largest horizontal wheat storage facility in the southern hemisphere. For a great view, walk the Merredin Peak Trail, which highlights the water catchment scheme designed in 1893. Nearby is the site of the First Australian General Field Hospital, in use during World War II. This, and the No. 4 Pumping Station, west of the town, are features on the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail. Interpretation is provided at both sites.