Pinjarra, Western Australia

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Pinjarra Western Australia
Murray River and Pinjarra Bridge
Population:	3,295 (2006)
Postcode:	6208
Location:	86 km (53 mi) from Perth 21 km (13 mi) from Mandurah 25 km (16 mi) from Waroona 25 km (16 mi) from Dwellingup 43 km (27 mi) from Mundijong
LGA:	Shire of Murray
State District:	Murray-Wellington
Federal Division:	Canning
Mean Max Temp Mean Min Temp Annual Rainfall  ? ? 941.4 mm 37.1 in

Coordinates: 32°37′48″S 115°52′16″E / 32.63°S 115.871°E / -32.63; 115.871

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.

It is near the site of the famous Battle of Pinjarra, where between 14 and 40 Aboriginals were killed by British colonists.

Contents 1 History 2 Future 3 Famous People 4 Transport 5 Tourism 6 References 7 External links

[edit] History

It is an area rich in history and is the home town of a former State Premier - Sir Ross McLarty. It is located near a ford over the Murray River, and land was reserved for a townsite here in 1831. Surveys were carried out in 1836 and land allocated to settlers in 1837.

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 this Aboriginal word and is usually said to mean "place of a swamp", but is more likely named after the Pindjarup people who frequented the area.^[1]

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.

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

[edit] Future

Due to its close position 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 ^[2]. Peel Zoo is also found near the town, known for its bird wildlife.

[edit] Famous People

• Sir Ross McLarty
• John Butler

[edit] Transport

Pinjarra serves as a stop on the Australind passenger train from Perth to Bunbury.

Preceding station		Transwa Trains network		Following station
North Dandalup towards Perth		Australind		Waroona towards Bunbury

Pinjarra is also a main town 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 the holiday seasons has been known to stretch for kilometres north or south of the town. As such there are plans to look at a bypass for the town in the future ^[3].

[edit] Tourism

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

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Shire of Murray

v • d • e Towns in the Shires of Harvey, Murray and Waroona Harvey Australind  · Benger  · Binningup  · Brunswick Jn.  · Cookernup  · Harvey(seat)  · Kemerton  · Leschenault  · Myalup  · Parkfield  · Roelands  · Wokalup  · Yarloop Murray Banksiadale  · Barragup  · Blythewood  · Carcoola  · Coolup  · Dwellingup  · Fairbridge  · Furnissdale  · Marrinup  · Meelon  · Murray Bend  · Nambeelup  · North Dandalup  · North Yunderup  · Pinjarra(seat)  · Point Grey  · Ravenswood  · South Yunderup  · Stake Hill Waroona Clifton  · Hamel  · Lake Clifton  · Nanga Brook  · Preston Beach  · Wagerup  · Waroona(seat)  · Yalgorup

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