MURCHISON

HEMA Map reference 76/C4

26° 53' 46" S 115° 57' 31" E

Statistics

Caravan Parks

Unknown

Services

Attractions

Museum, Errabiddy Bluff, Bilung Pool, Wooramel River gorges, old stock well, Ballinyoo Bridge, Wooleen Station.

Buildings of note

Unknown

Calendar of events

Unknown

Description

Dating from 1966 when a residence for the Shire Clerk was constructed, Murchison is not a town. In 1985 a roadhouse was built but the shire remains the only one in W.A. without an official town site. The name comes from a British scientist, Sir Roderick Imprey Murchison who was President of the Royal Geographical Society.

Murchison Settlement is the administrative hub and service centre for the 26 pastoral leases in the area.

The shire is very remote and there are few other travellers so it is best to be well prepared if you intend to travel here. Make sure you carry plenty of water, food, spare tyres and items that may be needed to repair your vehicle if it breaks down.

All roads in the shire are unsealed.

The origins of life on Earth

A meteorite shower that fell over Murchison settlement may provide scientists with the clues to the origins of life on Earth. Particles found on the meteorite fragments show the ability to form cellular membranes. It is believed that fragments like this landing on the Earth's surface around 4 billion years ago may have been the original building blocks for the first microbes. Scientists are today trying to replicate this process in the laboratory.