January,
Australia Day breakfast. March, Country Music festival. April,
Antique Fair, Photographic awards, Variety night. May, Autumn
flower show, Healing Fayre. July, Olive festival. September,
Agricultural show, Health fare. October, Music festival, Spring garden festival,
Art and craft awards, Quick shears, York Cup. November, Harvest festival. December,
Christmas street party. Monthly (2nd Saturday): Markets.
Description
The Avon
Valley was the first area away from the main settlement on the Swan River
(Perth) to be opened up and settled.
The townsite was already being developed when it was officially gazetted in
1836 and the York Road was the settlement’s life line to Perth.
The road was costly and difficult to maintain so to ensure that the road was
maintained a toll was charged when travellers reached
Mahogany Creek.
Once convicts began arriving in 1850 there was a reliable source of cheap
labour for public works and in 1851 the tolls were abolished.
The York road could be a hazardous place for travellers and not just because
of mud, flood and fire. Many travellers were attacked be Aboriginal tribes
and there were a number of spearings resulting in death.
The convicts, who had been the impetus behind the removal of the toll turned
out to be a ‘two edged sword’. Some of their number escaped and took to
robbing travellers on the York Road and even murders were committed by
former inmates.
A number of wayside inns were established to cater for traveller’s needs and
due to changes in the route the road took, some of these inns very quickly
found themselves out of business. The route that is in use today (along the
Great Eastern Highway) was more or less firmly established by 1850.
York is the oldest inland town in W.A. It was originally planned to call the
town Yorkshire by explorer J.S. Clarkson, after the county in England. Later
the name was shortened to it’s present form. The Aboriginal name for the
area was Balladong.
Early settlers included Rev. Wittenoom and R.H. Bland.
In 1886 the coming of the railway meant that York became the stepping off
point for miners heading for the goldfields around Coolgardie. It was from
this time to 1900 that many of the fine historical buildings you will see in
the town today were constructed.
Today York is a popular day trip from Perth and holds an annual jazz
festival. It is one of the best preserved historic towns in Australia with
only Charters Towers in Queensland offering a better example of architecture
of the period. The town is classified by the National Trust.
Soon after 2000 York seemed to have fallen out of favour and as a result
land prices in the area plummeted. Some real bargains were to be had with
5-10 acres going for as little as $15,000.
Since that time York has boomed again with prices for land and houses
exploding.
Gwambygine
Gwambygine
Pool is located 10 kilometres south of York on the Beverley Road. It is one
of the few remaining permanent pools on the Avon River. Picnic facilities
are provided and include tables, chairs, shelters and free gas BBQs. A
boardwalk and viewing tower allow you easy access to the pool area.
