COOROW

HEMA Map reference 76/G5

29° 53' 03" S 116° 01' 17" E

Statistics

Caravan Park

Coorow                   08 9952 1061

Attractions

Waddi Well. Alexander Morrison National Park.

Buildings of note

Unknown

Calendar of events

Unknown

Town Hall

Description

Settled by William & Sarah Long in the 1860s. (One source quotes 1852 and yet another quotes 1842 but we think 1862 is the correct date) The railway arrived in 1894. Today it is known for the production of grain, wool, cattle and pigs.

The name seems to have come from a nearby spring and may mean 'place of many mists' or may refer to the portulacca plant. John Forrest originally recorded the name as 'Curro'.

The railway arrived in 1894 but the town was not gazetted until 1911 (another source quotes 1893 - quite a difference but we believe 1911 is the correct date.). A school was established in 1912 and the first classes (for 8 students) were held in a tent. The town was served by a single shop until about 1920, a hotel was built in 1930 and there was no post office in the town until 1956 The first church appeared in 1959.

The area around the town is highly productive with agricultural produce like wheat reaching over 43,000 tonnes a year, wool over 2.5 million kg and lupins over 19,000 tonnes per annum.

The origins of the name are known to be Aboriginal but some conjecture exists about the real meaning. The most romantic is 'many mists'.