BEACON

HEMA Map reference 76/H7

30° 27' 10" S 117° 51' 56" E

Statistics

Km from Perth	273
Population	649 shire 100 town
Rainfall	316mm(64)
Max Temp
Min Temp
Autogas
Telecentre	Yes

Caravan Parks

Beacon 08 9686 1083

Services

Attractions

Karoon Hill, Datjoin Rock, Billiburning Rock, Beagley's Breakaway, Museum, Botanical park, Crimpy's Tank, Tampu Well.

Buildings of note

Unknown

Calendar of events

March: Mount Marshall & Districts Show , Central Wheatbelt Cricket Grand final. December: Beacon Primary School Concert, P & C Christmas Tree.

Famous sons & daughters

Unknown

Description

Beacon is 42km from Bencubbin on the northeast border of wheat growing country. The name was originally Beacon Rock but the current name was adopted in 1931 when the town site was gazetted.

In 1924 the North Bencubbin Railway League was formed and this gave way to the North Bencubbin Progress Association.

The Beacon Rock Progress Association was formed in 1931 and except for a short recess in the 1970s it continues to operate today. it has been primarily responsible for helping to bring essential services to the town as well as developing recreational community facilities. The Progress Association owns and operates Beacon Central, a building that houses Beacon Telecentre, Beacon Bulletin Newspaper, Beacon Library, Beacon Landcare Office and a meeting and conference room.

The first train to arrive in town turned up on May 4th 1931 and this helped ensure the survival of what is quite a remote town. The first school opened in the following year and operated until 1945 when it closed for a time due to low attendance. The school re-opened in 1946 and continued to serve the town until a new school was built in 1954.

The first town hall was made of corrugated iron, bush timber, hessian walls and had a dirt floor. In 1936 the first talking pictures were shown at the hall.

A sports oval was established in town almost from the beginning but upgrades to the facilities carried out in the 1960s, 1975, 1979 and 1994 have resulted in a much better facility than initially existed.

Beacon is probably one of the few small towns able to beat itself at cricket as the town supports two cricket sides (Beacon & Wialki).

In the 1950s a country club was constructed and this was replaced with a new building in 1957 with a number of later renovations and extensions.

In December 1970 the scheme water supply was opened.

The Beacon Bulletin has been produced in the town since 1976 and relies heavily on local volunteers for its continued success.

There is little to attract the casual visitor unless you are fascinated by wheat. There is an impressive wheat silo in town but not much else of note.

Beagley's Breakaway is one of the most interesting sites in the shire and we have reprinted directions to the attraction from the Beacon Shire website as without directions you probably won't find it.

'Head west from Beacon for 3 km along Burakin - Wialki Road and turn north onto Bimbijy Road. Travel on Bimbijy Rd for 36 km to an entry track on left hand side of the road. Travel 2 km along the track to a gate, open and close the gate, turn right and follow a farm track along the fence & power line for another 2 km, entering a large circular clearing at the breakaway and picnic sites. Alternatively, instead of entering the picnic site area, visitors may turn left at that point and continue on the farm track for 700 m enjoying panoramic views of farm land and nature reserve areas from the ridge of the breakaway. Beware of overhanging rocks, steep drops and loose stones near the edge of the breakaway.

This area is private property and you are asked to respect the owners property, fences and roads. Please keep to the breakaway reserve area and farm tracks. Camp fires are only permitted between the months of April and September. No pets, No shooting, No camping. Please take your rubbish with you. Ring Beacon Visitors Centre 9686 1014 or Mr Beagley 9686 1012 for more information.'

Mouroubra Rd.

This is an alternate route and leads you through station and wheat country to the Great Northern Highway near Paynes's Find. The road is usually passable but may be closed after heavy rain. It can be accessed from the Burakin-Wialki Rd.