NORTHAMPTON

HEMA Map reference 76/E3

28° 21' 08" S 114° 37' 46" E

Statistics

Caravan Parks

Northampton            0439 979 489

Services

Attractions

Old railway station, Chiverton House, Church of St Mary, Gwalla Church. Port Gregory, Pink Lake.

Buildings of note

Miner's Arms Hotel 1868, Northampton Hotel 1900, Sacred Heart convent 1919, Chiverton House (c)1896, Family store 1890, Road Board office 1898, Railway Hotel 1876, Old police station 1882, Anglican church 1908, Post office 1923, Roman Catholic church 1936.

Calendar of events

March: Lion’s Auction, June: Purple Bra Day. September: Agricultural show. October: Airing the quilts. November: Northampton Dirt Drags.

Description

Copper was discovered in the area in 1842 by Thomas Manson and lead was discovered in 1848. In 1849 the first railway in W.A. was completed, to take ore to the port at Geraldton. The railway continued to operate until 1957.

The area was first settled in 1848 when the main industry in the area was lead mining. The mine originally used convict labour, but later experienced miners were sought from England. There is a claim that this was the first lead mine in Australia. By 1877 the mine was producing over 4000 tonnes of lead and copper a year.

The town was declared in 1864 and was originally just called The Mines. It was renamed in 1871 and its present name is a combination of Northampton in England and John Stephen Hampton who was Governor of W.A. The Aboriginal name for the area was Wanerenooka.
 

Northampton boasted the first public railway in W.A. that ran south to Geraldton. It began operation in 1879 and the old railway station now houses a collection of railway memorabilia.

Today it is the centre of a large pastoral district.
 

Travellers are well catered for in Northampton with a choice of three pubs and an excellent facility for caravanners and motorhomers to stop during the day behind Hampton Park where there are toilets, a dump point and a water tap for drinking water. The area is large enough for the biggest motorhome or bus to park easily while the occupants take a stroll through this heritage listed town. A brochure on the local heritage trail is available from the local tourist bureau located in the old police station.

Northampton is part of the Monsignor John Hawes Heritage trail that includes the towns of: Perenjori, Morawa, Mullewa, Geraldton, Northampton, Yalgoo, Carnamah, Nanson and Bluff Point.