Duranillin, Western Australia
| Duranillin Western Australia | |
|---|---|
| Population | 190 (2006)[1] |
| Established | 1916 |
| Postcode(s) | 6393 |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of West Arthur |
| State electorate(s) | Wagin |
| Federal division(s) | O'Connor |
Duranillin is a small town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 24 kilometres (15 mi) south of Darkan near the junction of the Arthur and Beaufort rivers.
History
The town's name is of Aboriginal origin and was first recorded by a surveyor in 1877, as with Moodiarrup further south, but the meaning of the name is not known. The town was established in 1916 when the Collie-Wagin railway was built,[2] and gazetted in 1918.[3]
The first building was a store built by Lewis Hibble, and was followed in the 1920s by a few settlers. Until 1968, the railway was the main employer in the town, and a major timber mill operated by the Hughes family operated here which employed three or four families.[4]
Present day
Duranillin today is a small town with a post office and store. It serves as a trading post and meeting place for the farming families and agricultural community in the broader area, and periodically stages local events which attract visitors.
Lake Towerrinning, located south of the town, is the main attraction of the area - a semi-freshwater lake covering 256 hectares (633 acres), and a popular swimming spot with picnic areas and clean sandy beaches, offering water skiing and swimming as well as serving as a sanctuary for aquatic bird life - over 57 varieties of bird have been observed in the area. The State Government announced plans to upgrade facilities at the lake in May 2006.[5] A small winery is also nearby.
Lake Towerrinning is an impact crater, and you will find small, glazed black pebbles which are remnants of the original objects that hit the earth there.
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Duranillin (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ Cross Country to Wagin Milne, Rod Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, September, 1991 pp207-214
- ^ "History of country town names – D". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2007.
- ^ "Albany Gateway - Duranillin". Archived from the original on 31 August 2006. Retrieved 14 October 2006.
- ^ Department of Planning and Infrastructure. "Wheatbelt boating facilities to be upgraded (press release)".