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The first lease in the area was taken out in 1870 by James Byrne and John
Williams.
Early farming centered more around fruit production than the more usual wheat
and sheep. When the railway arrived in 1891 it crossed the Moore River over the
highest wooden trestle bridge in the state (at that time.)
Wannamal siding was completed in 1895. Despite the early start it took some
years for the population in the area to build up sufficiently for a townsite to
be surveyed but this was finally done in 1908 when the town was officially
gazetted.
Four years later in 1912 the town hall was completed and opened by H.B. Lefroy
M.L.A. At last meetings would no longer be held in the goods shed.
Wannamal today is a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ town and as it lies in the back
roads and not on a major highway, it is rarely seen by travellers in any case.
Most of those who do pass through do so in spring when the wildflowers in the
area are at their most spectacular. The old school site is now a rest area and
not too far up the road is an excellent wildflower reserve at Mogumber.
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