28-453: Wickepin is a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia , 214 kilometres (133 mi) south-east of Perth and 38 kilometres (24 mi) east of Narrogin . Wickepin had a population of 380 at the 2021 census . Wickepin's name is of Aboriginal origin, first recorded in 1881, but the meaning is not known. Until 1908, the area was sometimes known as Yarling, the name of a spring in
56-458: 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
84-401: A season, she commonly lays 250% of her own weight. Clutch size varies greatly between birds and with rainfall. Incubation time depends on temperature and can be between about 50 and almost 100 days. Hatchlings use their strong feet to break out of the egg, then lie on their backs and scratch their way to the surface, struggling hard for 5 to 10 minutes to gain 3 to 15 cm (1 to 6 in) at
112-422: A structure as older birds. They are thought to mate for life, and although the males stay nearby to defend the nests for nine months of the year, they can wander at other times, not always returning to the same territory afterwards. The female lays a clutch of two or three to over 30 large, thin-shelled eggs, mostly about 15; usually about a week apart. Each egg weighs about 10% of the female's body weight, and over
140-401: A time, and then resting for an hour or so before starting again. Reaching the surface takes between 2 and 15 hours. Chicks pop out of the nesting material with little or no warning, with eyes and beaks tightly closed, then immediately take a deep breath and open their eyes, before freezing motionless for as long as 20 minutes. The chick then quickly emerges from the hole and rolls or staggers to
168-402: A tree to roost in. Although very active, they are seldom seen as they freeze if disturbed, relying on their intricately patterned plumage to render them invisible, or else fade silently and rapidly into the undergrowth (flying away only if surprised or chased). They have many tactics to run away from predators . Pairs occupy a territory, but usually roost and feed apart; their social behaviour
196-565: Is a service town for the surrounding agricultural district, and contains recreational facilities, historic buildings from its boom period in the 1910s–1920s, a telecentre , public library and caravan park. Albert Facey's house was moved to the main street of Wickepin in 2000 and is open to visitors. Wickepin has a primary school, first opened in 1911, with high school students travelling by school bus to Narrogin . [REDACTED] Media related to Wickepin, Western Australia at Wikimedia Commons Wheatbelt (Western Australia) The Wheatbelt
224-436: 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
252-449: Is a stocky ground-dwelling Australian bird about the size of a domestic chicken (to which it is distantly related). It is notable for the large nesting mounds constructed by the males and lack of parental care after the chicks hatch. It is the only living representative of the genus Leipoa , though the extinct giant malleefowl was a close relative. Malleefowl are shy, wary, solitary birds that usually fly only to escape danger or reach
280-648: 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
308-530: Is sufficient to allow regular mating during the season and little else. In winter, the male selects an area of ground, usually a small, open space between the stunted trees of the mallee , and scrapes a depression about 3 m (9.8 ft) across and just under 1 m (3.3 ft) deep in the sandy soil by raking backwards with his feet. In late winter and early spring, he begins to collect organic material to fill it with, scraping sticks, leaves, and bark into windrows for up to 50 m (160 ft) around
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#1732855164059336-705: 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
364-422: 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
392-510: 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,
420-522: The Road Board (later Shire Council ) was constituted and the railway commenced operations. In the years prior to the First World War Wickepin was an important service centre, featuring three banks, blacksmiths and other businesses as well as a post office and railway buildings. Dorothy Hewett , most famous author of the wheatbelt, lived as a child on a prosperous farm about 15 km north-east of
448-496: 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
476-611: The area; Yarling Well is 8 km (5.0 mi) west of the town. The area was leased in the early 1870s, but started to grow after the construction of the Great Southern Railway in 1889. The land was opened up by the State Government in 1893, and by 1906 a town had started to develop. In 1908, plans were announced to extend the railway from Narrogin to Wickepin , and the town was gazetted in June of that year. Seven months later,
504-490: The base of the mound, disappearing into the scrub within moments. Within an hour, it will be able to run reasonably well; it can flutter for a short distance and run very fast within two hours, and despite not having yet grown tail feathers , it can fly strongly within a day. Chicks have no contact with adults or other chicks; they tend to hatch one at a time, and birds of any age ignore one another except for mating or territorial disputes. It occupies semiarid mallee scrub on
532-498: The excavation of the egg chamber, and the timing varies with temperature and rainfall . The female usually lays between September and February, provided enough rain has fallen to start organic decay of the litter. The male continues to maintain the nest mound, gradually adding more soil to the mix as the summer approaches (presumably to regulate the temperature). Males usually build their first mound (or take over an existing one) in their fourth year, but tend not to achieve as impressive
560-636: 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 Malleefowl The malleefowl ( Leipoa ocellata )
588-591: The fringes of the relatively fertile areas of southern Australia, where it is now reduced to three separate populations: the Murray – Murrumbidgee basin, west of Spencer Gulf along the fringes of the Simpson Desert , and the semiarid fringe of Western Australia 's fertile southwest corner. Several important bird areas across southern mainland Australia have been identified by BirdLife International as being significant for malleefowl conservation: Across its range ,
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#1732855164059616-489: The hole, and building it into a nest mound, which usually rises to about 0.6 m (2.0 ft) above ground level. The amount of litter in the mound varies; it may be almost entirely organic material, mostly sand, or any ratio in between. After rain, he turns and mixes the material to encourage decay, and if conditions allow, digs an egg chamber in August (the last month of the southern winter). The female sometimes assists with
644-419: 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
672-402: The malleefowl is considered to be threatened. Predation from the introduced red fox is a factor, but the critical issues are changed fire regimens and the ongoing destruction and habitat fragmentation . Like the southern hairy-nose wombat , it is particularly vulnerable to the increasing frequency and severity of drought that has resulted from climate change . Before the arrival of Europeans,
700-642: The malleefowl was found over huge swaths of Australia. The malleefowl is classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Malleefowl are listed as vulnerable on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 . Its conservation status has varied over time, and also varies from state to state within Australia. For example: The Yongergnow Australian Malleefowl Centre
728-558: 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
756-740: The town between 1923 and 1935. Her grandparents also operated the General Store in Wickepin. Two of her plays, The Man from Mukinupin and Field of Dreams , and a dozen of her most celebrated poems, especially "Legend of the Green Country" and "Once I Rode with Clancy", are set in the area. Albert Facey , Gallipoli veteran and author of A Fortunate Life , lived south of the town from 1922 to 1934 with his family. From 1917 until 1964, Wickepin hosted an agricultural show in October of each year. Wickepin
784-595: 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
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