Attractions

Pioneer Museum

Wongan Hills Pioneer Museum Wongan Hills Pioneer Museum Wongan Hills Pioneer Museum

The museum was originally the first hospital for Wongan Hills and the surrounding area. In 1927 at the local Roads Board Meeting the issue of the need for a hospital was raised. Before this time people in the area were taken to Goomalling, 25 miles away. A rate payers meeting also addressed the problem of no local hospital. Dr Stenning had commenced practicing in Wongan Hills in 1929 and he assisted the townsfolk in raising and acquiring the funds for the hospital to be built.

In 1931 the hospital was opened. It had been built so that if the hospital did not continue it could be turned into a boarding house. Alterations and additions were made in the late 1930’s. In the 1950’s the doctors consulting room and waiting room were located within the hospital building.

In 1965 a new hospital was constructed. The original hospital had operated for thirty three years. The old hospital was used for nurse’s quarters. At times the flat within the building was rented out. In 1971 the Wongan Hills and Districts Museum and Historical Society took over the building. In 1972 the Wongan Pioneer Museum was officially opened.

Posted on 3rd February 2008 in Attractions | No Comments »

Mt O’Brien Wheatbelt Lookout

View from Mt O’Brien towards Lake Ninan View from Mt O’Brien towards Lake Hinds

In 1986 Mt O’Brien was officially renamed from Mt Dick and opened to the public by Mrs Hennessy (nee Cath O’Brien).

In July 1999 the Hon. Wilson Tuckey announced funding for the Mt. O’Brien Wheatbelt Lookout had been approved after an application for funding had been submitted by the Wongan Hills Tourism Group and shire of Wongan-Ballidu. Mt O’Brien Centenary of Federation “Wheatbelt Lookout” was officially opened on 27th October 2001, jointly by Hon. Wilson Tuckey M.P., Federal Member for O’Connor and the Wongan –Ballidu Shire President Mr Duncan Holme J.P., with 150 people attending.

At this event the Holme family donated to the Wongan -Ballidu Shire, 1 hectare adjoining the previous land excised, which now includes the mobile phone area and the Wheatbelt Lookout.

Mt O’Brien is the second highest point in the Wongan Hills (424 metres). Mt O’Brien has BBQ facilities, lighting, seating and tables.

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Wongan Hills Cemetery

Wongan Hills Cemetery Wongan Hills Cemetery Baby Memorial

The Wongan Hills Cemetery is situated approx. 2kms from the centre of town on Ningham Road. There are many beautiful wildflowers in evidence at the Cemetery. The first recorded burial in the Wongan Hills Cemetery was in 1914.

The Cemetery is in two sections, divided by a centre roadway. The left hand side is the earliest section in which many members of Pioneer families are buried, and which was used until 1956. The right hand side was commenced in approx. 1943 and is currently still in use.

Unfortunately, there are many graves in the Pioneer Section of the Cemetery that are unmarked, because we are unsure of grave locations. There are no early records of the Cemetery, but it is presumed that this area was selected for the Cemetery as it is on a sandplain, and is therefore easy to dig.

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Wongan Hills Water Tower

Water Tower Water Tower at Night

The Water Tower was built between 1913-1914. The stand is 12ms (40ft) high and made of karri and jarrah. The tank holds 100,000lts (32,000 gal). The water tank was built for the steam trains and used solely for the trains.

In 2005 the Wongan Hills Tourism Group raised funds to light the water tower with amber coloured lights. For the month of October the Water Tower is lit “Pink” for Global Illumination Breast Cancer Research.

Posted on 3rd February 2008 in Attractions | No Comments »