Harvey, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
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
. It has a population of 2,606.
, named by Governor James Stirling
in 1829, soon after the river's discovery by explorers Dr Alexander Collie
and Lieutenant William Preston RN.
Although not positively known, the river is most likely named after Rear Admiral Sir John Harvey RN
. In 1817-18, Harvey was Commander in Chief of the West Indies Station - Stirling served under him while in charge of the HMS Brazen, and Harvey recommended him for promotion. Stirling named a number of Western Australian features after his former navy colleagues.
, Stirling selected 12800 acres (51.8 km²) known as Wellington Location 50A and established the Harvey River Settlement. The only improvement he made to the land, as far as is known, was the erection of a hunting lodge near the present town of Harvey, known as "The Hut", featuring a shingled roof, jarrah
walls and hexagonal paving blocks. In the 1880s, this hut became the childhood home of children's author May Gibbs
MBE
. Stirling called the area around the town of Harvey "Korijekup", using the Noongar
Aboriginal
name meaning "place of the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
".
The area was settled slowly over the remainder of the 1800s. During the 1860s, Australind
, originally the site of a failed grandiose settlement scheme, was the centre of the Harvey District community. In 1863, a road was gazetted from Pinjarra
to Brunswick Junction
, which was built by convicts between 1864 and 1876 - it was called the "foothills route" and later became the South Western Highway
.
Harvey was developed as a private town in the 1890s by a group of investors following the opening of a railway station there in 1893. However, Cookernup
, little more than a railway stop today, had a greater population, and had a telegraph office and school years before Harvey. In 1926 the Harvey Road Board sought the declaration of a townsite, but this did not occur until 1938.
In February 2006, EG Green & Sons, the owner of the Harvey Beef brand since 1919 and responsible for about 90% of Western Australia's beef exports, went into administration. In April, however, the brand was rescued by a new consortium who acquired EG Green & Sons and recreated it as Harvey Industries.
In 2010, Harvey gained national attention when 19 year-old Jessica Moloney became a finalist in the popular Fox8 show Australia's Next Top Model
. She came in fourth place in Cycle 6
of the series.
The town is the seat of the Shire of Harvey
and is the centre of the Western Australian dairy industry. It contains an agricultural college and the headquarters of both the Harvey Fresh (1986) and Harvey Beef (1919) brand names, and each year in April (no longer October) hosts an agricultural show. In addition, a high school, a primary school, dining and shopping facilities, accommodation (hotel, motel, caravan park), council offices and the Forest Products Commission's Timber Technology Centre are located within the town.
The railway station contains a museum which documents early life in the town, and the Stirling Cottage (actually a replica of it built 500 m downstream from the original in 1994 after the original cottage succumbed to the elements in the 1960s) has been converted into a tourist information centre and tearooms. An unusual feature is the Italian Internment Shrine, built by Italian internees of Harvey No. 11 Camp during World War II
and believed to be one of the only monuments of its kind in existence.
(Route 20; Perth to Bunbury via Pinjarra and Waroona). Uduc Road, the town's main street, goes to Old Coast Road
near Myalup
. Harvey also serves as a stop on the Australind
passenger train from Perth
to Bunbury
.
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...
along the South Western Highway
South Western Highway
South Western Highway is a highway in the South West region of Western Australia connecting Perth's southeast with Walpole. It is a part of the National Highway 1 network for most of its length...
, 140 km south of Perth, between 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...
and Bunbury
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
. It has a population of 2,606.
Origin of the name
Harvey's name is derived from the nearby Harvey RiverHarvey River
The Harvey River is a river in Western Australia and is the southernmost of the three major waterways which drain into the Peel-Harvey Estuary, with its delta in the southern extreme of the Harvey Estuary. It is about 90 km in length, rising near Mount Keats...
, named by Governor James Stirling
James Stirling (Australian governor)
Admiral Sir James Stirling RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. His enthusiasm and persistence persuaded the British Government to establish the Swan River Colony and he became the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia...
in 1829, soon after the river's discovery by explorers Dr Alexander Collie
Alexander Collie
Dr Alexander Collie was a Scottish surgeon and botanist who journeyed to Western Australia in 1829, where he was an explorer and Colonial Surgeon.-Early life:...
and Lieutenant William Preston RN.
Although not positively known, the river is most likely named after Rear Admiral Sir John Harvey RN
John Harvey (governor)
Lieutenant-General Sir John Harvey, KCB KCH was a British Army officer and a Lieutenant Governor.He was commissioned into the 80th Foot in 1794 and served in several different locations, including France, Egypt, and India...
. In 1817-18, Harvey was Commander in Chief of the West Indies Station - Stirling served under him while in charge of the HMS Brazen, and Harvey recommended him for promotion. Stirling named a number of Western Australian features after his former navy colleagues.
History
According to Dr James BattyeJames Battye
Dr. James Sykes Battye was the first chief librarian of the Victoria Public Library in Perth, Western Australia. He was a leading historian, librarian and public figure of the State...
, Stirling selected 12800 acres (51.8 km²) known as Wellington Location 50A and established the Harvey River Settlement. The only improvement he made to the land, as far as is known, was the erection of a hunting lodge near the present town of Harvey, known as "The Hut", featuring a shingled roof, jarrah
Jarrah
Eucalyptus marginata is one of the most common species of Eucalyptus tree in the southwest of Western Australia. The tree and the wood are usually referred to by the Aboriginal name Jarrah...
walls and hexagonal paving blocks. In the 1880s, this hut became the childhood home of children's author May Gibbs
May Gibbs
Cecilia May Gibbs MBE was an Australian children's author, illustrator, and cartoonist. She is best-known for her gumnut babies , and the book Snugglepot and Cuddlepie....
MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. Stirling called the area around the town of Harvey "Korijekup", using the Noongar
Noongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
name meaning "place of the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo , also known as Banksian- or Banks' Black Cockatoo, is a large cockatoo native to Australia. This species was known as Calyptorhynchus magnificus for many decades until the current scientific name was officially conserved in 1994. It is more common in the drier parts...
".
The area was settled slowly over the remainder of the 1800s. During the 1860s, Australind
Australind, Western Australia
Australind is a satellite town and outer northern suburb of Bunbury, Western Australia, and is located 12 km north-east of Bunbury's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Harvey. At the 2006 census, Australind had a population of 8,717. -History:Prior to European...
, originally the site of a failed grandiose settlement scheme, was the centre of the Harvey District community. In 1863, a road was gazetted 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 Brunswick Junction
Brunswick Junction, Western Australia
Brunswick Junction is a town located in the South West of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, between Harvey and Bunbury.-History:...
, which was built by convicts between 1864 and 1876 - it was called the "foothills route" and later became the South Western Highway
South Western Highway
South Western Highway is a highway in the South West region of Western Australia connecting Perth's southeast with Walpole. It is a part of the National Highway 1 network for most of its length...
.
Harvey was developed as a private town in the 1890s by a group of investors following the opening of a railway station there in 1893. However, Cookernup
Cookernup, Western Australia
Cookernup is a town located in the South West of Western Australia just off the South Western Highway, between Waroona and Harvey.-History:In 1835, Stephen Henty and Thomas Peel were the first Europeans to visit the area, being guided through the reaches of the Harvey River by local Aboriginal...
, little more than a railway stop today, had a greater population, and had a telegraph office and school years before Harvey. In 1926 the Harvey Road Board sought the declaration of a townsite, but this did not occur until 1938.
In February 2006, EG Green & Sons, the owner of the Harvey Beef brand since 1919 and responsible for about 90% of Western Australia's beef exports, went into administration. In April, however, the brand was rescued by a new consortium who acquired EG Green & Sons and recreated it as Harvey Industries.
In 2010, Harvey gained national attention when 19 year-old Jessica Moloney became a finalist in the popular Fox8 show Australia's Next Top Model
Australia's Next Top Model
Australia's Next Top Model is an Australian reality television series, based on a franchise that was created by Tyra Banks with America's Next Top Model...
. She came in fourth place in Cycle 6
Australia's Next Top Model, Cycle 6
The sixth cycle of Australia's Next Top Model is an Australian reality television program which is broadcasted on the Australian subscription television channel, FOX8. The cycle premiered on 20 July 2010. Auditions were held on 16–24 January 2010 across Australia in six cities...
of the series.
Present day
Shire of Harvey
The Shire of Harvey is a Local Government Area of Western Australia. It is located in the state's South West region, approximately 140km south of Perth, and includes some of Bunbury's northern suburbs. The shire covers an area of 1,728 km² and has a estimated population of about 24,000...
and is the centre of the Western Australian dairy industry. It contains an agricultural college and the headquarters of both the Harvey Fresh (1986) and Harvey Beef (1919) brand names, and each year in April (no longer October) hosts an agricultural show. In addition, a high school, a primary school, dining and shopping facilities, accommodation (hotel, motel, caravan park), council offices and the Forest Products Commission's Timber Technology Centre are located within the town.
The railway station contains a museum which documents early life in the town, and the Stirling Cottage (actually a replica of it built 500 m downstream from the original in 1994 after the original cottage succumbed to the elements in the 1960s) has been converted into a tourist information centre and tearooms. An unusual feature is the Italian Internment Shrine, built by Italian internees of Harvey No. 11 Camp during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and believed to be one of the only monuments of its kind in existence.
Transport
The main road route through the area is South Western HighwaySouth Western Highway
South Western Highway is a highway in the South West region of Western Australia connecting Perth's southeast with Walpole. It is a part of the National Highway 1 network for most of its length...
(Route 20; Perth to Bunbury via Pinjarra and Waroona). Uduc Road, the town's main street, goes to Old Coast Road
Old Coast Road
Old Coast Road is a Western Australian highway linking Mandurah, WA's second-largest city located 75 km south of Perth, with Bunbury, WA's third-largest city. It is signed as Route 1 for most of its length and is long.-Overview:...
near Myalup
Myalup, Western Australia
Myalup is a town located on the coast in the South West region of Western Australia between Mandurah and Bunbury. At the 2006 census, Myalup had a population of 144.-History:...
. Harvey also serves as a stop on the Australind
Transwa Australind
The Transwa Australind is a diesel railcar train operated by Transwa that runs between Perth, Western Australia, and the south-west city of Bunbury on the South Western Railway . The Australind fleet consists of three powered railcars ADP101, ADP102 and ADP103, with two non-driving trailers ADQ121...
passenger train from Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
to Bunbury
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
.