THE Wheatbelt is often overlooked as a destination for WA travellers, but it is rich in history and sights to see. The Pioneers Pathway, which runs from Perth to Merredin, offers the opportunity to step back in time along a beautiful scenic route.
Here are some of the areas you can visit when you travel the Wheatbelt:
Meckering: Small in size but big in history, it is famously known as the state’s “earthquake town” after a 40-second quake measuring 6.9 rocked the region in 1968.
Amazingly, no one was killed but damage such as bent train lines and farmhouse ruins are still visible, making the town an interesting rest break.
Cunderdin: The great water pipeline from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie passes through Cunderdin and the No.3 Pump Station has been turned into an impressive museum. Visitors can learn about the station and get a view of the station chimney from the base.
After stopping in at Meckering, the Cunderdin Museum offers the opportunity to visit the “Quake Room” and experience what the 1968 earthquake felt like.
If you’re hungry, walk across the road to the Cundarin Ettamogah Pub, built true to the design of Ken Maynard’s Australasian Post cartoons.
Merredin: Midway between Perth and Kalgoorlie, you will be spoilt for choice on things to do. First stop is the Railway Museum filled with a wonderful collection of memorabilia housed in the original train station; you can even go to the top of the old signal station, which offers a great view of the town.
Next door is the Merredin Military Museum, which holds a large collection of war memorabilia including a retired Iroquois helicopter – only the second on public display in WA.
Dowerin: This quiet town in the centre of the Wheatbelt comes alive every year in August for the Field Days event. This agricultural show has been running for 52 years and is the biggest rural agricultural show in WA.
With tractors, fine wines, stud rams and cheeses, the Dowerin Field Days event has it all.
When you’ve finished taking in everything at the show, the Dowerin District Museum is close by and allows you to take a step back in time. The house was built in 1915 and owned by the O’Shaughnessy family. It has been meticulously preserved to provide an example of a typical Wheatbelt home in the 1920s.
- Integrity Coach Lines has a Rural Reflections Tour on August 29-30. The two-day, one night tour will wander the Wheatbelt and stop at some of the pioneer and military museums along the way.
- (08) 9274-7464, www.integritycoachlines.com.au
