20-692: Brookton is a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia , 138 kilometres (86 mi) from the state capital, Perth via the Brookton Highway where it crosses the Great Southern Highway . The town is on the Great Southern railway line . It is within, and is the seat of government for, the Shire of Brookton . At the 2016 census, Brookton had a population of 975. The first settler and founder of
40-467: A few businesses and by 1903, the tiny settlement comprised a school, hotel, bank and a few shops. The Old Police Station Museum located in the town is the base of the local historical society and contains artifacts and memorabilia of the early settlement days. A bulk wheat bin was opened in December 1940 and began receiving large amounts of grain immediately. In 1941 the wheat harvest of the surrounding area
60-515: A leafy canopy that shades 30–70% of the ground. The term is also applied to a vegetation association where these mallee eucalypts grow, on land that is generally flat without hills or tall trees and where the climate is semi-arid . Of the 32 Major Vegetation Groups classified under the National Vegetation Information System, "Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands" (MVG14): The major vegetation subgroups of MVG14, based mainly on
80-642: A population of 975. It contains a TAFE centre, and in addition, a district high school (opened 1960, replacing a primary school), Bendigo Bank , shopping facilities, accommodation (hotel, motel, caravan park), council offices and a telecentre are located within the town. Bi-annually, it hosts the Old Time Motor Show. The town is a stop on the Transwa bus service to Albany . [REDACTED] Media related to Brookton, Western Australia at Wikimedia Commons Wheatbelt (Western Australia) The Wheatbelt
100-458: A range of other agricultural and pastoral products. With a range of climate and economic changes in the region, considerable effort is made by government at all levels to cope with the decline of some communities, and create opportunities for ventures that keep population in the region. Cultural change with population changes in many localities has been identified by local museums and historical societies, including online documentation. Also
120-436: Is a significant tourist area. In contrast, the eastern fringe is very arid, and is mainly used for pastoral farming of sheep. Mining of gold , nickel and iron ore also occurs. The remainder of the region is highly suited to agriculture , and is the source of nearly two thirds of the state's wheat production, half of its wool production, and the majority of its lamb and mutton , oranges , honey , cut flowers and
140-646: Is one of 32 Major Vegetation Groups defined by the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy and one of the 189 habitats in the HOTW habitats of the World classification. " Mallee " refers to the growth habit of a group of (mainly) eucalypt species that grow to a height of 2–9 m (6 ft 7 in – 29 ft 6 in), have many stems arising from a lignotuber and have
160-648: Is one of nine regions of Western Australia defined as administrative areas for the state's regional development, and a vernacular term for the area converted to agriculture during colonisation. It partially surrounds the Perth metropolitan area , extending north from Perth to the Mid West region, and east to the Goldfields–Esperance region. It is bordered to the south by the South West and Great Southern regions, and to
180-705: The CBH grain receival points (grain silos ), which are primarily located in the Wheatbelt region. Six main highways radiating out from Perth serve the Wheatbelt: Brand Highway (north-west to Geraldton ), Great Northern Highway (north-east to Wyndham ), Great Eastern Highway (east to Kalgoorlie ), Great Southern Highway (east to York , then south to Cranbrook ), Brookton Highway (east-south-east to Brookton ), and Albany Highway (south-east to Albany ). A network of main roads connects towns within
200-482: The Great Southern Railway opened, Brookton was one of the original stations. The station proved to be the catalyst that created a centre for the isolated farms, and the government gazetted a townsite here in 1895 and named it "Seabrook" but local acceptance of the station name and confusion with another Seabrook near York resulted in the townsite's name being changed to Brookton in 1899. The townsite attracted
220-547: The perennial components of the understorey are: Mallee woodlands and shrublands occur in 39 IBRA biogeographic regions. The present extent of this vegetation group is estimated to be about 214,000 km (83,000 sq mi) but the estimate prior to 1750 is 318,000 km (123,000 sq mi). In 2001, the area covered by this vegetation group is estimated to be 65% of its pre-1750 coverage. The most extensive area of this vegetation association in Australia today
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#1733086201137240-422: The 1890s with the removal of plant species such as eucalypt woodlands and mallee , is now home to around 11% of Australia's critically endangered plants. A number of nationally threatened birds reside in the Wheatbelt, including the endangered Carnaby's black cockatoo and the vulnerable malleefowl . The Wheatbelt encompasses a range of ecosystems and, as a result, there are a range of industries operating in
260-580: The Brookton district, John Seabrook (1818–1891), moved to the area in 1846 soon after marrying, and named his property "Brookton House". He remained the only European in the area, aside from itinerant sandalwood cutters, until his stepson, A. W. Robinson, took up adjacent land in 1864. During the 1860s and 1870s, more settlers moved into the area, and took on sandalwood cutting – it sold for £8.9 per tonne (£9 per long ton) – as well as wheat and sheep farming. In June 1889, when
280-510: The Great Southern, Goldfields-Esperance and Mid West regions that are dominantly grain growing areas. There are numerous subdivisions of the Wheatbelt, and in most cases the separation is by local government areas. The Wheatbelt Development Commission (WDC) breaks the region up into five sub-regions with four offices: Most of the Wheatbelt is included in the larger Australia's Golden Outback. Due to their proximity to Perth, however,
300-496: The Wheatbelt to each other, the highways, and neighbouring regions, with local roads providing additional links and access to smaller townsites. Roads are often named after the towns they connect. The following list is the shires listed in the Wheatbelt as designated by the Wheatbelt Development Commission. Some shires in adjoining regions are traditionally considered part of the Wheatbelt – there are shires in
320-651: The following shires are instead promoted as part of the Destination Perth region. The tourist precincts are included: Finally, the northwestern Shire of Dandaragan is promoted as part of Australia's Coral Coast region due to the presence of the larger seaside towns of Cervantes and Jurien Bay , which developed independently of wheat-growing. The Wheatbelt is separated into other designations at various times as well: 32°S 118°E / 32°S 118°E / -32; 118 Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands
340-419: The literary tradition of writers including the wheatbelt in their writing included: Lesser known writers also have the wheatbelt environment in their writing such as Lilian Wooster Greaves . The Wheatbelt once had an extensive railway system , which transported bulk wheat grain. It has been reduced in part, while the main lines are being supported. Grain is transported on those lines to ports for export from
360-558: The region. In the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia there are a number of subdivisions such as the Avon Wheatbelt (AVW), and a further breakdown of Avon Wheatbelt P1 (AW1) and Avon Wheatbelt P2 (AW2), Jarrah Forest , Geraldton Sandplains and Mallee regions. Near the coast, the region receives relatively high rainfall and mild temperatures, and its 150 kilometres (93 mi) of coastline
380-595: The west by the Indian Ocean , the Perth metropolitan area, and the Peel region. Altogether, it has an area of 154,862 square kilometres (59,793 sq mi) (including islands). The region has 42 local government authorities, with an estimated population of 75,000 residents. The Wheatbelt accounts for approximately three per cent of Western Australia's population. The area, once a diverse ecosystem, reduced when clearing began in
400-408: Was about 3,300 cubic metres (90,000 imperial bushels ) all delivered to the local bulk wheat bin. This was about 180 cubic metres (5,000 imperial bushels) bushels down from the previous year. Brookton is located on Great Southern Highway , 138 kilometres (86 mi) east of Perth via Brookton Highway and is a key agricultural centre for a rich mixed farming district. In the 2016 census it reported
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