Broomehill, Western Australia

Broomehill is a town on the Great Southern Highway between Katanning and Albany, in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Its local government area is the Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup.

Broomehill
Western Australia
The Henry Jones Building, Broomehill, 2018
Broomehill
Coordinates33°50′42″S 117°38′02″E
Population251 (2016 census)[1]
Established1890
Postcode(s)6318
Elevation332 m (1,089 ft)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup
State electorate(s)Roe
Federal Division(s)O'Connor
Broomehill Post Office building 2018
Sheridan's memorial garden 2018
CBH Group train at Broomehill

History

The town of Broomehill owes its creation to the Great Southern Railway, which was completed in 1889. The railway runs from Beverley to Albany. Broomehill is named after Sir Frederick Napier Broome (1842–96) who was then the Governor of Western Australia.

Gold bearing quartz was discovered by the station master around Broomehill in 1889.[2]

In the same year Patrick Garrity purchased two lots facing Jasper Street and built a galvanised iron hotel. By 1905 the hotel had been rebuilt in brick with more extensions added in 1908. Known as the Broomehill Hotel and later as the Imperial Hotel, the two storey tuck pointed building is now heritage listed.[3]

The townsite was gazetted by the Western Australian Land Company in 1890, which was recognised by the state government in 1897.[4] A group of settlers from the now extinct town of Eticup moved to the present site of Broomehill to help establish a township after the construction of the railway was completed. These settlers included the Withams, the Walshes, and the Curnows. These three families worked hard to establish the early structures. A Victorian named Hamilton acquired 1,300 acres (526 ha) of land around the townsite in 1890; T. W. Powell also acquired 1,000 acres (405 ha) near the town from the Western Australian Land Company.[5]

A branch of the Commercial Bank of Australia was opened in the town-site in 1891.[6]

In 1892, a police station and post office were also established.[7] The Imperial Hotel was operating in the town by late 1892.[8]

The Broomehill Agricultural Hall was opened by T. Norris, a settler of the area, in 1898.[9] The population of the town was 72 (37 males and 35 females) in 1898.[10]

A local Progress association was formed in 1905 with C.J. Darcy taking the position of Chairman.[11]

Broomehill Football Club had been established in or before 1907, playing games against surrounding towns such as Katanning.[12]

A cooperative was discussed in 1920 with insufficient capital being raised,[13] in 1921 the cooperative commenced operations after having taken over the premises of Messrs E. Garrity and Company.[14] The official spelling of Broomehill was changed from two words to one in 1959.[7]

Economy

The main industry in town is wheat farming with the town being a Cooperative Bulk Handling receival site.[15] There is also some sheep farming, while more recently farmers have diversified into viticulture and aquaculture (in the form of barramundi farming).[16][17]

Features

The Holland Track, a well known walking and 4WD track, begins in Broomehill and ends in Coolgardie.[18] The 700 kilometres (435 mi) track was established in 1893 by the pioneer John Holland through the bush via Newdegate to the goldfields at Coolgardie.[19]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "2016 Community Profiles: Broomehill Village (State Suburb)". 2016 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  2. "News from Albany". The Inquirer And Commercial News. XLVIII (1414). Western Australia. 31 July 1889. p. 4. Retrieved 26 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Broomehill Hotel". InHerit. Heritage Council of Western Australia. 15 July 1988. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  4. "Albany Gateway - Telling Tales about Broomehill". 2003. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  5. "General News". The Inquirer And Commercial News. L (1493). Western Australia. 21 May 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 26 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "News of the Week". Western Mail. VI (287). Western Australia. 13 June 1891. p. 27. Retrieved 26 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names – B". Retrieved 27 September 2008.
  8. "Advertising". The Inquirer And Commercial News. LI (17, 493). Western Australia. 7 December 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 26 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "News and Notes". The West Australian. 14 (3, 854). Western Australia. 6 July 1898. p. 4. Retrieved 26 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Population of Western Australia". Western Mail. Perth, Western Australia: National Library of Australia. 22 April 1898. p. 23. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  11. "Progress Association formed at Broomehill". Great Southern Herald. 4 (192). Western Australia. 19 July 1905. p. 3. Retrieved 26 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Football. Katanning v. Broomehill". Great Southern Herald. 6 (396). Western Australia. 27 July 1907. p. 4. Retrieved 26 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "Co-Operation". The Southern Districts Advocate. 6 (289). Western Australia. 12 January 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 26 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "Advance Katanning". The Southern Districts Advocate. 8 (55). Western Australia. 28 November 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 26 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "CBH Receival Sites - Contact Details" (PDF). 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  16. "Sydney Morning Herald - Travel - Broomehill". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
  17. "Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup - - Tourist Sites". 2005. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
  18. "Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup - Holland Track". 2005. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
  19. "The Holland Track". Goldfields Tourism Network. Retrieved 26 December 2017.

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