Banksiadale, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Banksiadale is a locality and former town in the Peel region of Western Australia
north of Dwellingup
. Its local government area
is the Shire of Murray
.
genus
Banksia
, as the area consists of jarrah forest with unusually thick understorey of Banksia grandis
(Bull Banksia). For over 50 years, the area was home to a small timber
milling town.
The Hotham Valley railway (operated by WAGR
) was opened from Pinjarra
to Dwellingup
in 1910 to access the jarrah and marri
timber in the area. In 1911, a site to produce timber for a wide range of general railway purposes was selected 8 km north of Dwellingup and a railway was opened to it in January 1912. The No. 2 Railway Mill was built in the same year and began operations in December 1912.
By 1917, a network of railways covering 33 km of track extended from Banksiadale to the areas in which timber was being felled. In the year of 1926 alone, the Banksiadale mill produced 185,000 sleepers, and 6,347 other loads, of which the WAGR utilised a little more than 50%, the balance being sold or stacked.
By 1946, the local timber had been exhausted and WAGR obtained another concession at Asquith Block, 30 km east of Harvey
upstream from Nanga Brook
, which was being worked by Millar Brothers. A railway from Asquith Block was completed in 1948 (including a 28-span timber trestle bridge which is now heritage listed). In the early 1950s, Asquith logs were brought to Banksiadale by G-class locomotive
s (later replaced by more modern and powerful C-class) and the sawn timber was returned to Dwellingup
.
The Dwellingup fires in January and February 1961
destroyed the mill and devastated the countryside. The mill was not rebuilt as it was on land destined to be flooded when the South Dandalup Dam
was constructed. Many of the railways were subsequently removed, but ARHS
special excursion trains took visitors into the area in the 1960s.
, which is dammed by the South Dandalup Dam
. Most of the area is declared disease risk area for Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback
.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
north of Dwellingup
Dwellingup, Western Australia
Dwellingup is a town in Western Australia, located in a timber and fruitgrowing area in the Darling Range east-south-east of Pinjarra. At the 2006 census, Dwellingup had a population of 346.-Name:...
. Its local government area
Local Government Areas of Western Australia
The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 141 local government areas...
is the Shire of Murray
Shire of Murray
The Shire of Murray is a Local Government Area of Western Australia. It covers an area of just beyond metropolitan Perth, the capital of Western Australia. It lies about 80 km south of the Perth central business district. The Shire of Murray had a population of 11,969 as at the 2006...
.
History
Banksiadale is named after the plantPlant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Banksia
Banksia
Banksia is a genus of around 170 species in the plant family Proteaceae. These Australian wildflowers and popular garden plants are easily recognised by their characteristic flower spikes and fruiting "cones" and heads. When it comes to size, banksias range from prostrate woody shrubs to trees up...
, as the area consists of jarrah forest with unusually thick understorey of Banksia grandis
Banksia grandis
Banksia grandis, commonly known as Bull Banksia, Giant Banksia or Mangite, is a common and distinctive tree in South West Western Australia....
(Bull Banksia). For over 50 years, the area was home to a small timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
milling town.
The Hotham Valley railway (operated by WAGR
Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
) was opened from Pinjarra
Pinjarra, Western Australia
Pinjarra is a town in the Peel region of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, from the state capital, Perth and south-east of the coastal city of Mandurah. Its local government area is the Shire of Murray. At the 2006 census, Pinjarra had a population of 3,279.Pinjarra is an area...
to Dwellingup
Dwellingup, Western Australia
Dwellingup is a town in Western Australia, located in a timber and fruitgrowing area in the Darling Range east-south-east of Pinjarra. At the 2006 census, Dwellingup had a population of 346.-Name:...
in 1910 to access the jarrah and marri
Corymbia calophylla
Corymbia calophylla is a bloodwood native to Western Australia. Common names include Marri and Port Gregory Gum, and a long standing usage has been Red Gum due to the red gum effusions often found on trunks.It is distinctive among bloodwoods for its very large buds and fruit Corymbia calophylla...
timber in the area. In 1911, a site to produce timber for a wide range of general railway purposes was selected 8 km north of Dwellingup and a railway was opened to it in January 1912. The No. 2 Railway Mill was built in the same year and began operations in December 1912.
By 1917, a network of railways covering 33 km of track extended from Banksiadale to the areas in which timber was being felled. In the year of 1926 alone, the Banksiadale mill produced 185,000 sleepers, and 6,347 other loads, of which the WAGR utilised a little more than 50%, the balance being sold or stacked.
By 1946, the local timber had been exhausted and WAGR obtained another concession at Asquith Block, 30 km east of Harvey
Harvey, Western Australia
Harvey is a town located in the South West of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, 140 km south of Perth, between Pinjarra and Bunbury...
upstream from Nanga Brook
Nanga Brook, Western Australia
Nanga Brook is a former town located in the Peel region of Western Australia in the Lane-Poole Reserve between Dwellingup and Waroona.-History:The area was home to a milling town that operated from about 1900 until the Dwellingup fires of 1961...
, which was being worked by Millar Brothers. A railway from Asquith Block was completed in 1948 (including a 28-span timber trestle bridge which is now heritage listed). In the early 1950s, Asquith logs were brought to Banksiadale by G-class locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s (later replaced by more modern and powerful C-class) and the sawn timber was returned to Dwellingup
Dwellingup, Western Australia
Dwellingup is a town in Western Australia, located in a timber and fruitgrowing area in the Darling Range east-south-east of Pinjarra. At the 2006 census, Dwellingup had a population of 346.-Name:...
.
The Dwellingup fires in January and February 1961
Dwellingup fires of 1961
In early 1961, a series of bushfires burned in the southwest of Western Australia. The devastating fires burned large areas of forest in and around Dwellingup from 20 to 24 January, at Pemberton and in the Shannon River region between 11 and 15 February, and in the Augusta-Margaret River area in...
destroyed the mill and devastated the countryside. The mill was not rebuilt as it was on land destined to be flooded when the South Dandalup Dam
South Dandalup Dam
South Dandalup Dam is a dam in Western Australia. It is located at , where South Dandalup River flows out of Lake Banksiadale. The dam was built in 1971 in response to rapid population growth in Perth, Western Australia's capital city, and a resources boom in the Pilbara.With a reservoir capacity...
was constructed. Many of the railways were subsequently removed, but ARHS
Australian Railway Historical Society
The Australian Railway Historical Society was founded in Sydney in 1933 as The Australasian Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. It aims to foster an interest in the railways, and record and preserve many facets of railway operations. Membership now exceeds 2,500, with Divisions in every...
special excursion trains took visitors into the area in the 1960s.
Present day
Its main feature is Lake BanksiadaleLake Banksiadale
Lake Banksiadale is a freshwater lake in Western Australia. It is located at , about six kilometres north-east of Dwellingup in the locality of Banksiadale, Shire of Murray, in the Peel region...
, which is dammed by the South Dandalup Dam
South Dandalup Dam
South Dandalup Dam is a dam in Western Australia. It is located at , where South Dandalup River flows out of Lake Banksiadale. The dam was built in 1971 in response to rapid population growth in Perth, Western Australia's capital city, and a resources boom in the Pilbara.With a reservoir capacity...
. Most of the area is declared disease risk area for Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback
Phytophthora cinnamomi
Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soil-borne water mould that produces an infection which causes a condition in plants called root rot or dieback. The plant pathogen is one of the world's most invasive species and is present in over 70 countries from around the world.- Life cycle and effects on plants :P...
.