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Statistics
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Km from Perth |
546 |
|
Population |
354 |
|
Rainfall |
422mm (102.9) |
|
Max Temp |
22.6C (45.9) |
|
Min Temp |
10.3C (-1) |
|
Autogas |
Available |
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Telecentre |
Yes |
Caravan Parks
Ravensthorpe 08 9838
1010
Services
|
Hospital |
08
9838 2211 |
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Police |
08
9838 1004 |
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SES |
08
9838 1111 |
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RAC
|
08
9838 1146 |
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Tourist bureau |
08
9838 1277 |
Attractions
Ravensthorpe Range,
Fitzgerald River National Park , Cocanarup Homestead, The
Palace Hotel, Railway heritage walk, World time meridian, Mt. Desmond
lookout, Archer Drive and Lookout, Museum.
Buildings of note
Palace Hotel, Morgan St.
1907.
Calendar of events
September: Spring festival. Wildflower show.
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Description
John S. Roe surveyed and named the
area in 1848. The region was first settled in 1868 (some sources quote 1872)
by John Dunn. Gold was discovered in 1896 (some sources quote 1899) and as a
result the population increased to about 3000 by 1909, but by 1918 the gold
began to run out and so did the miners.
The town site was declared in 1901 and is named after a town in
Northamptonshire, England.
Copper was also mined near the town and reached it’s peak in the 1960s.
Today it is wheat & sheep country but the recent development of nickel
mining has added another facet to the region's economy.
Evidence of the town's former glory is the disused Government Smelter where
dumps and old equipment stand as a reminder of the importance the town
enjoyed during the copper and gold rush period.
There are a number of scenic drives in the area including:
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Archer Drive -
20 Km. to a lookout.
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Ethel Daw
Drive - 30Km. Excellent views.
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Hamersley Drive - 170 Km. Through Fitzgerald National Park.
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Mount Madden
Drive - 160Km. To Pallarup Rocks picnic site.
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Mount Short
Drive - 40Km. The highest point in the Ravensthorpe Range.
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Wave Rock -
193Km. day trip to Hyden and Wave Rock.
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