GINGIN

HEMA Map reference 74/B3

31° 20' 52" S 115° 54' 26" E

Statistics

Caravan Parks

Phone Numbers

Attractions

Moondah Brook Vineyard, Walkabout trail, Dewar's House, Granville, West Coast Honey, Gravity Discovery Centre, Sandy Lake farm B&B

Buildings of note

St. Luke’s, Brockman & Weld Sts. 1861, Old railway station 1891, Uniting church 1870.

Calendar of events

April: Horticultural show. May: British car day. August: Science week Gravity Discovery Centre. September; Lily festival.

Church

Hotel

Description

Gingin is a pretty little town about 4km off the main highway. Historic buildings, and a central park and pool make the slight detour worth while.

Settlement in the area dates from the 1830s after Robert Dale and Edward Barrett-Lennard stumbled across the area while looking for stray cattle.

George Fletcher Moore's map of the area (made in 1836) shows the name 'Jinjin' but a later survey by W L Brockman in 1843 shows the spelling as 'Gingin'. The name may mean 'footprint' or possibly 'place of streams.'

The first school in Gingin opened on the 18th of August 1862 and a festival was held to celebrate the occasion. The school opened and closed and changed location over the next few years and the education of local children seemed to be a bit hap-hazard until 1881 when things started to settle down and teacher was found who would stay for the next 9 years.

Initially it was suggested that the new townsite be called Frogmore but this was dismissed by the locals. Granville was then suggested and a townsite (about 3.5 kilometres from the current site) gazetted in 1869. Only two of the 134 town lots were purchased as the site was not popular with locals. Finally a new townsite called Gingin was gazetted in 1871.

Most towns started off with a ‘Road Board’ that was responsible for collecting taxes and using the proceeds to build bridges and roads in their allotted zones. These boards then progressed to become local councils with responsibility for much more than just roads. In the case of Gingin the town had both a Road Board (1893) and a Municipal Council. The town was far too small to support both and in the end the Council was dissolved (1903) and its assets and responsibilities taken over by the Road Board.

In the early days Gingin developed a beef and dairy industry and in the early 1900s became famous for the production of oranges. Today sheep, wheat and cattle are the areas main industries.

Word has it that the local authorities do not like free camping in the area and on the spot fines are issued.

Tall tales & true: Poisoned flour

John Death (an appropriate name as it turns out) worked for Joshua Edwards and had a small shack where he kept his belongings.

On a number of occasions his hut was raided by Aborigines while he was away and flour, tea, tobacco and the like were taken.

Death placed a sign in front of his hut stating ‘NOTICE. POISON FLOUR MEAL’ and he even informed the local policeman that he had the strychnine laced flour to get rid of wild dogs.

Of course the inevitable happened and the Aborigines – who could not read the sign – stole the flour and a young child died as a result.

Death was charged over the matter but no records can be found to shed light on the outcome of the case. Death drowned in Gingin Brook in 1872.