Goorolong Park

JARRAHDALE

HEMA Map reference 74/D3

32° 20' 24" S 116° 06' 35" E

Statistics

Caravan Parks

None

Services

Unknown

Attractions

Serpentine Dam, Goorolong Park, Langford Park.

Buildings of note

Old post office 1880.

Calendar of events

Unknown

Tavern

Description

The town dates back to 1872 and the granting of several timber concessions. Jarrahdale Timber Company constructed a railway to move timber down to the coast at Rockingham. Originally a private town, it was finally gazetted in 1913. The town’s name comes from the large stands of jarrah forest that surround it.

In 1907 there was a major strike after workers conditions and wages were adversely affected by a ruling about the timber industry. A fighting fund was established and an enormous sum (for the time) of over 7400 pounds was raised. All mills in the south west (except Karridale) closed down.

The strike started on March 15th and continued until June 17th. The workers had won a small victory in pay and conditions but the loss of income had longer term effects on the viability of some mills.

Jarrahdale has relied on the timber industry for most of its income in the past but today fruit and vegetables have been added to the local industry and bauxite mining began in the 1960s.

There WAS an excellent recreation reserve about five kilometres south of the town (Gooralong Park) which has Toilets, Tables, BBQs, walk tracks and a fresh water stream flowing through it (most of the year). This was once the site of a flour mill that operated by the brook. It WAS a very popular picnic area and there are some good walk trails with one going 11 kilometres to Serpentine Falls. It was closed down without reason by DEC/CALM 'temporarily', it has stayed this way for the past 2 years. We are currently seeking clarification of when the people of Western Australia are going to get back what belongs to them.

A shorter walk to Kitty’s Gorge is very pleasant but all walks are best done in the cooler months. (Kitty was apparently a cow that escaped and was found months later living happily by the Gorge that now bears her name.)

North of the town an abandoned quarry has been converted into a shady park (Langford) and is an ideal place for a BBQ or picnic. Grassed areas, seats, BBQs tables and shelters are all provided for public use. Alcoa operated a bauxite mine in this area in 1963 and during the 1970s two more mines opened at Huntly and Del Park. The first alumina refinery in W.A. was constructed at Kwinana to process the bauxite. Today about 16% of the world's demand for aluminium is produced in W.A.

Nearby Serpentine Dam is a major source of water for Perth but few people know that beneath the water lies the old settlement of Big Brook. This was a timber town that was once home to around 1000 people.
 

Walk trails

Kitty’s Gorge. 3 separate walk trails from 1 to 11 kilometres long. All start at Gooralong Park. Difficulty - moderate.
 

Stacey’s Track. 3 kilometres walk through Gooralong Park, forest and the town. Difficulty - moderate.

Mundlimup Trail. Access from Balmoral Rd. Passes through an old logging area tree growing  experiment. Difficulty - easy.

Wetlands Walk. Circuit trail suitable for wheelchairs. Difficulty - easy.

Heritage Railway Hike. 4 or 7 kilometre loop trails. Follows the route of the old 1872 railway. Difficulty - easy to moderate.

Prisoner Of War Camp Hike. Old camp ruins and former railway route. Difficulty - easy.

Blue Rocks Walks. 1.5 or 3 kilometre walk trail over Blue Rock and through forest recovering from mining and timber milling. Difficulty - moderate.