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Statistics
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Km from Perth |
260 |
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Population |
3600 |
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Rainfall |
314mm (82.6) |
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Max Temp |
22C (46.2) |
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Min Temp |
11.2C (-3.4) |
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Autogas |
Available |
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Telecentre |
Yes |
Caravan Parks
Merredin 08 9041 1535
Services
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Hospital |
08
9041 1411 |
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Police |
08
9041 1322 |
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Fire |
000 |
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RAC |
08
9041 1444 |
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Tourist bureau |
08
9041 1666 |
Attractions
Old railway station, Hunt’s
dam, Burracoppin, Railway water tower,
CBH grain terminal (the
longest grain storage facilities in the Southern Hemisphere),
Military Museum, No. 4 Pumping station, Merredin Peak, Totadgin
Conservation Park, Art gallery.
Buildings of note
Old town hall 1911, Cummins Theatre.
Calendar of events
March: Car rally, Show August
(biennial): Vintage fair, Golf tournament. September: Country
music festival, Radiowest auction. October: Art exhibition.
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Description
The first
expedition to the area was led by John
Septimus Roe in 1836. He was followed in 1863 by
Henry Maxwell Lefroy. In this 945
mile journey, Lefroy travelled through what is now the shire of Merredin and
on to where the golden mile was later discovered. From 1864-66
Charles Hunt organised three
separate expeditions and he is credited with getting the name Merredin from
the local Aborigines. Hunt suffered from T.B. and sadly died (aged 35) soon
after his return from the third expedition.
The town’s name is said to have originated from the Aboriginal word merritt-in
or place of the merritt tree, which was used for making spears.
The initial townsite was gazetted in 1891 when 20 lots were surveyed. None
of these were sold but a hotel was built to the south of this location and
when the railway arrived in 1895, Merredin Station was established. In 1904
more lots were surveyed and by 1906 the area around the station was
incorporated into the townsite.
At this time Merredin was also spelled Merreden and Merriden. The station
name Merredin was adopted and the current name has been in use since 1907.
A water catchment area was developed on Merredin Peak and a channel directed
rain water run off to a 25 million litre capacity dam. The structure can
still be seen today, in fact it is still used to supply the fountain near
the railway museum.
An agricultural research station was established in 1904 and it led to the
development of the well known 'Bencubbin' strain of wheat.
The largest town in the eastern wheat belt, Merredin is located on the Great
Eastern Highway between Perth &
Kalgoorlie. 40% of W.A.’s wheat is produced
within a 100km radius of the town.
Smaller town sites and localities that are included in the Merredin Shire are: Hines Hill, Burracoppin, South Burracoppin, Goomarin, Korbel, Muntadgin, Nangeenan,
Nokanning, Tangedin, Nukarni and Norpa.
Tall tales & true: Murder!
When Robert Waterson arrived home by train on a Sunday morning in May 1918
he found he was locked out of his house. He promptly kicked the door in only
to find a man in a state of undress with his wife in the bedroom.
Grabbing a spear that was hanging on the wall as an ornament he proceeded to
stab the intruder to death.
Another murder occurred in June 1922 when farmhand Archibald Samuel French
shot his farmer employer (Andrew Podesta) in the back after being dismissed
and told to leave the farm. French then committed suicide by taking poison.
He admitted to the killing just before he died.
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