Pinjarra, Western Australia

Pinjarra
Western Australia

Pinjarra
Pinjarra
Coordinates 32°37′48″S 115°52′16″E / 32.63000°S 115.87111°E / -32.63000; 115.87111Coordinates: 32°37′48″S 115°52′16″E / 32.63000°S 115.87111°E / -32.63000; 115.87111
Population 4,255 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 6208
Location
LGA(s) Shire of Murray
State electorate(s) Murray-Wellington
Federal Division(s) Canning
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
? ? 941.4 mm
37.1 in

Pinjarra is a town in the Peel region of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, 86 kilometres (53 mi) from the state capital, Perth and 21 kilometres (13 mi) south-east of the coastal city of Mandurah. Its local government area is the Shire of Murray. At the 2011 census, Pinjarra had a population of 4,255.[1]

Pinjarra is an area rich in history, and is the home town of a former State Premier - Sir Ross McLarty. It is near the site of the infamous Battle of Pinjarra, where between 14 and 40 Aboriginal Noongars were killed by British colonists in 1834.

History

The name was often shown spelt "Pinjarrup" on early maps, while the accepted spelling for many years was "Pinjarrah". There are conflicting theories regarding the meaning of the name, and it is usually said to mean "place of a swamp", as a corruption of the Aboriginal word "beenjarrup".[2] However, Pinjarra is more likely to have been named after the Pindjarup people who frequented the area.[3]

One of the first settlers in the area was Thomas Peel, who established a settlement at the mouth of the Murray River in 1830.[2] In 1831, land was reserved for a townsite near a ford over the river. By 1834, word had spread about the rich loamy soils and pastures, bringing more Europeans to the area.[2][4] Surveys were carried out in 1836 and land allocated to settlers in 1837.

By early 1898 the population of the town was 400, 300 males and 100 females.[5]

A British child migration scheme run by Kingsley Fairbridge established a farm school in the area in the early 1900s. Hundreds of orphaned children were educated at Fairbridge Farm between 1913 and 1981. Fairbridge Chapel was built at Pinjarra, in 1924 to Herbert Baker's design.

The author Kenneth (Seaforth) McKenzie grew up in Pinjarra, and parts of his experiences as a child living near the Murray River are found in his first novel The Young Desire It.

In 1974, an alumina refinery was established by Alcoa Australia Ltd, causing a boost in the population of Pinjarra and nearby Mandurah.[2][4] Pinjarra is also the site of the world’s largest bauxite mine.

Shopping and Growth

Pinjarra contains one shopping centre which had one development that opened on May 2015. The Shopping centre is called Pinjarra Junction or Junction Shopping Centre. Contains a Target Country now called Target Australia Just Smaller. A Coles Supermarket which also has a Liquor store. A Best & Less mini major fashion store and The Reject Shop. The Growth of Pinjarra is going pretty good nowadays as it is a simple suburb in Western Australia

2016 Bushfire Safety

On January 6, 2016, lightning caused a bushfire in Yarloop, Western Australia and Waroona, Western Australia Pinjarra.[6]

Future

Because of its close proximity to Mandurah, Australia's fastest-growing city, Pinjarra's population is likely to increase significantly through new subdivisions surrounding the original townsite. There is a newly opened shopping centre, complete with a Coles Supermarket and a Subway restaurant.[7] Peel Zoo, known for its bird wildlife, is situated near Pinjarra.

Notable people

Transport

Pinjarra station is located on the South Western Railway and served by Transwa's twice daily Australind service from Perth to Bunbury.[8] In September 2012 a Transperth bus service was inaugurated between Murray Hospital in southern Pinjarra and Mandurah railway station, via Mandurah Forum on Pinjarra Road, and Pinjarra town centre.[9]

Pinjarra is also on the South Western Highway between Armadale and Bunbury, something which has both helped and hindered the town. Pinjarra is the smallest town in WA to have a set of traffic lights but traffic through the town during holiday seasons has been known to stretch for kilometres north or south. As a result, there have been calls for the construction of a road bypass of the town.[10]

Tourism

Pinjarra is the operating base for the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway.

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Pinjarra (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Pleasant town on the banks of the Murray River", The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 2004, retrieved 28 March 2011
  3. ↑ Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names – P". Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  4. 1 2 "The History of Settlement" (url). Peel Inlet: Western Australia: History. at Mandurah WA. 1996–2000. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  5. ↑ "Population of Western Australia". Western Mail. Perth, Western Australia: National Library of Australia. 22 April 1898. p. 23. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "Bushfire Devastates Australian Town". Earth Observatory. NASA. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  7. ↑ http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=359&ContentID=85043 Archived 27 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Australind Timetable Transwa
  9. ↑ "New routes 600 and 604 servicing North Yunderup, South Yunderup, Mandurah and Pinjarra". Transperth. Retrieved 2013-07-04.
  10. ↑ "Fight to get Pinjarra Bypass on the Road: Randall". Don Randall MP. Retrieved 2013-07-04.
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