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20-427: Wyalkatchem is a town in the central Wheatbelt region, 192 kilometres (119 mi) east-north-east of Perth , 35 kilometres (22 mi) east of Dowerin and 44 kilometres (27 mi) south of Koorda . At the 2021 census , Wyalkatchem had a population of 358. The town won the state tidy town award in 2000 and 2002, and then won the national award in 2003. Wyalkatchem is an Aboriginal name first recorded for

40-471: A diverse ecosystem, reduced when clearing began in 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

60-458: 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

80-613: A result, there are a range of industries operating in 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

100-1072: 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 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

120-576: A waterhole, spelt Walkatching in the 1870s. The spelling Walcatching was used in 1881 when the Toodyay Road Board referred to a tank to be built there, and when the road from Northam to the Yilgarn Goldfield was surveyed in 1892 the spelling Wyalcatchem was used for the tank. The Walkatching spelling is probably the most accurate, as Aboriginal names in this region rarely end in em . The change of spelling from Wyalcatchem to Wyalkatchem in 1911

140-436: 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

160-653: 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

180-563: The Perth metropolitan area is the administrative area and geographical extent of the Western Australian capital city of Perth and its conurbation . It generally includes the coastal strip from Two Rocks in the north to Singleton in the south, and inland to The Lakes in the east, but its extent can be defined in a number of ways: The Perth metropolitan region is grouped with the Peel region in some urban planning documents including

200-554: The Western Australian Planning Commission 's Directions 2031 and Beyond and the Perth and Peel@3.5 million suite of documents. Together, the Perth and Peel regions stretch 158 kilometres (98 mi) from Two Rocks in the north to Herron in the south and are currently home to more than two million people. According to the Metropolitan Region Scheme , the Perth metropolitan region comprises

220-475: The 1500m airstrip at the Wyalkatchem airport. After the success of the inaugural event, Wyalkatchem has agreed to host the event for another five years. [REDACTED] Media related to Wyalkatchem, Western Australia at Wikimedia Commons Wheatbelt (Western Australia) The Wheatbelt is one of nine regions of Western Australia defined as administrative areas for the state's regional development, and

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240-510: 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,

260-496: 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

280-645: 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 Perth metropolitan area The Perth metropolitan region or

300-419: 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

320-399: The primary industries in the area are wheat and sheep farming. The town also supports a gypsum mine that is situated just outside town at Lake Cowcowing. In 2013 Wyalkatchem hosted the inaugural Racewars event, organised by The Racewars Group. The event saw 200 competitors and over 3000 spectators witness some of Western Australia's fastest vehicles race head-to-head and against the clock on

340-595: The shire council from the Western Australian Government Railways Commission . The barracks represent one of the few intact examples of its kind in Australia and are currently used as accommodation during Dowerin Field Days and as the headquarters of a hang-gliding club. The area is home to a Cooperative Bulk Handling receival point that can hold nearly 120,000 tonnes of grain and crops;

360-517: Was done by the Department of Lands & Surveys according to rules the department had adopted for spelling Aboriginal names. The meaning of the name is not known. In 1932 the Wheat Pool of Western Australia announced that the town would have two grain elevators , each fitted with an engine, installed at the railway siding. When the extension of the railway east from Dowerin was planned in 1908, land

380-692: Was selected as the turnout point for a branch line leading north and then east to the Mount Marshall district. Thus a small village quickly blossomed on the town site. The branch line to Bencubbin opened on 1 February 1915 and the line from Dowerin was extended to Merredin in August 1911. A bioblitz was conducted in 2012 in a bush reserve between Korrelocking and Wyalkatchem. 54 people took part and collected samples of scorpions , pseudoscorpions, isopods , spiders and centipedes , including some new species. The extensive railway barracks in town are leased by

400-550: Was set aside for a future townsite in the area of the Wyalcatchem tank. The route of the railway and site for a station was not fixed until 1910, and action followed to then fix the position of the townsite and survey town lots. Following the survey of the lots the townsite was gazetted spelt Wyalkatchem in 1911. When the railway from Dowerin opened in February 1911, Wyalkatchem was a minor siding only, but its importance grew when it

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