(C) Don Copley

WIDGIEMOOLTHA

HEMA Map reference 75/B12

31° 29' 35" S 121° 34' 39" E

Statistics

Caravan Parks

Unknown

Services

Description

Widgiemooltha is 631 Kilometres east of Perth about half way between Norseman and Coolgardie. These days it isn’t much more that a roadhouse but like many towns in the area it grew up amid the early gold rushes.

The town was gazetted as ‘Widgemooltha’ in 1897 and the extra ‘i’ was added in 1944. Being such an unusual name it was often misspelled but the original meaning seems to be something to do with emus.

Various spellings of the name found on documents include: Wedgemulla Hill, Woodgiemoola, Wadjiemoultha, Wagemulla, Widjimoultha and Widgiemoultha.

Tall tales & true: Seven point kick.

During a game of Australian Rules football the Daniells Siding Demons were one goal (6 points) ahead of the Widgiemooltha Wanderers as the game neared its conclusion.

Widgie’s full forward took a last shot at goal just as the final siren sounded and the ball (that was somewhat the worse for wear) fell apart, the leather case going between the big sticks (6 points) and the bladder going through the points posts (1 point). The Umpire declared 1 goal and 1 point and Widgie won the match by that 1 point.

Cave Hill west of Widgie