Pinjarra, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
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
. At the 2006 census
, Pinjarra had a population of 3,279.
Pinjarra is an area rich in history, and is the home town of a former State Premier - Sir Ross McLarty
. It is near the site of the infamous Battle of Pinjarra
, where between 14 and 40 Aboriginal
Noongar
s were killed by British colonists in 1834.
word "beenjarrup". However, Pinjarra is more likely to have been named after the Pindjarup
people who frequented the area.
One of the first settlers in the area was Thomas Peel
, who established a settlement at the mouth of the Murray River
in 1830. In 1831, land was reserved for a townsite near a ford over the river. By 1834, word had spread about the rich loamy soils and pastures, bringing more Europeans to the area. Surveys were carried out in 1836 and land allocated to settlers in 1837.
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 in Pinjarra, and parts of his experiences as a child living near the Murray River are found in his first novel The Young Desire It.
In 1974, an alumina refinery was established by Alcoa Australia Ltd
, causing a boost in the population of Pinjarra and nearby 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. Peel Zoo is also found near the town, known for its bird wildlife.
passenger train from Perth
to 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.
.
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...
, 86 kilometres (53 mi) from the state capital, 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....
and 21 kilometres (13 mi) south-east of the coastal city of Mandurah
Mandurah, Western Australia
Mandurah is the second-largest city in Western Australia and is located approximately south of the state capital, Perth.The city attracts a large number of tourists, including many international visitors...
. 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...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Pinjarra had a population of 3,279.
Pinjarra is an area rich in history, and is the home town of a former State Premier - Sir Ross McLarty
Ross McLarty
Sir Duncan Ross McLarty KBE MM was the 17th Premier of Western Australia.-Early life:McLarty was born in Pinjarra, Western Australia, the youngest of seven children of Edward McLarty, a farmer and grazier and member of the Western Australian Legislative Council, and his wife Mary Jane, née Campbell...
. It is near the site of the infamous Battle of Pinjarra
Battle of Pinjarra
The Battle of Pinjarra or Pinjarra Massacre was a conflict that occurred in Pinjarra, Western Australia between a group of 60 to 80 Australian Aborigines and a detachment of 25 soldiers and policemen led by Governor James Stirling in 1834...
, where between 14 and 40 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....
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...
s were killed by British colonists in 1834.
History
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 the name, and it is usually said to mean "place of a swamp", as a corruption of the AboriginalIndigenous 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....
word "beenjarrup". However, Pinjarra is more likely to have been named after the Pindjarup
Pindjarup
The Binjareb, Pindjarup or Pinjareb is the name of the Indigenous Australian group of Noongar speakers, living in the region of Southwest, Western Australia between Port Kennedy on the coast, between Rockingham and Mandurah to Australind on the Leschenault Inlet, and between a point between Byford...
people who frequented the area.
One of the first settlers in the area was Thomas Peel
Thomas Peel
Mr. Peel, he moans, took him from England to Swan River, West Australia, means of subsistence and of production to the amount of £50,000. Mr. Peel had the foresight to bring with him, besides, 300 persons of the working-class, men, women, and children. Once arrived at his destination, "Mr. Peel was...
, who established a settlement at the mouth of the Murray River
Murray River (Western Australia)
The Murray River is a river in the southwest of Western Australia which played a significant part in the expansion of Aboriginal settlement in the area south of Perth after the arrival of British settlers at the Swan River Colony in 1829....
in 1830. In 1831, land was reserved for a townsite near a ford over the river. By 1834, word had spread about the rich loamy soils and pastures, bringing more Europeans to the area. Surveys were carried out in 1836 and land allocated to settlers in 1837.
A British child migration scheme run by Kingsley Fairbridge
Kingsley Fairbridge
Kingsley Ogilvie Fairbridge was the founder of a child emigration scheme to British colonies and the Fairbridge Schools...
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
Seaforth Mackenzie (author)
Kenneth Ivo Brownley Langwell Mackenzie , was an Australian poet and novelist....
grew up in Pinjarra, and parts of his experiences as a child living near the Murray River are found in his first novel The Young Desire It.
In 1974, an alumina refinery was established by Alcoa Australia Ltd
Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals
Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals is a joint venture between Alumina Limited and Alcoa and is abbreviated to AWAC. AWAC's business is the mining of bauxite, the extraction of alumina and the smelting of aluminium. It has about 25% of the global alumina market...
, causing a boost in the population of Pinjarra and nearby Mandurah.
Future
Due to its close position to MandurahMandurah, Western Australia
Mandurah is the second-largest city in Western Australia and is located approximately south of the state capital, Perth.The city attracts a large number of tourists, including many international visitors...
, 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
Coles Supermarkets
Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
and a Subway
Subway (restaurant)
Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
restaurant. Peel Zoo is also found near the town, known for its bird wildlife.
Notable people
- Sir Ross McLartyRoss McLartySir Duncan Ross McLarty KBE MM was the 17th Premier of Western Australia.-Early life:McLarty was born in Pinjarra, Western Australia, the youngest of seven children of Edward McLarty, a farmer and grazier and member of the Western Australian Legislative Council, and his wife Mary Jane, née Campbell...
- John ButlerJohn Butler (musician)John Charles Wiltshire-Butler or John Charles Butler is an Australian musician, songwriter, record label owner and producer...
- James Keating
Transport
Pinjarra serves as a stop on the AustralindTranswa 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...
.
Pinjarra is also a main town on 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...
between Armadale
Armadale, Western Australia
Armadale is a suburb within the City of Armadale, located on the south-eastern edge of Perth's metropolitan area. The major junction of the South Western and Albany Highways, which connect Perth with the South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia respectively, is located within the...
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...
, 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.
Tourism
Pinjarra is the operating base for the Hotham Valley Tourist RailwayHotham Valley Railway
The Hotham Valley Tourist Railway is a tourist and heritage railway in the Peel region of Western Australia....
.