Highbury, Western Australia Explained

Type:town
Highbury
State:wa
Lga:Shire of Narrogin
Local Map:yes
Zoom:9
Coordinates:-33.057°N 117.241°W
Est:1905
Postcode:6313
Dist1:208
Location1:Perth
Dist2:16
Location2:Narrogin
Fedgov:O'Connor
Stategov:Roe
Maxtemp:22.4
Mintemp:9.8
Rainfall:499.6
Elevation:304

Highbury, originally Wolwolling, is a small town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, located along the Great Southern Highway between Narrogin and Wagin. At the 2006 census, Highbury had a population of 493.

History

Like many towns, Highbury came into existence with the construction of the Great Southern Railway, when a siding was built here in 1894. Highbury was originally called Wolwolling, after Wolwolling Pool, a permanent pool in the bed of the Arthur River 7 km to the south-southeast.[1] It was gazetted under that name in 1905, but the local progress association complained that the name was too similar to others, causing letters and goods to go astray to other places. At a public meeting the names submitted to ballot were Highbury, Scottdale, and Linton. Linton was the preferred name, however it was renamed Highbury from August 1906.[2] [3]

The Wolwolling State School was opened in 1904, with a permanent school building and teacher's quarters constructed in 1905. The school operated until 1946.[4] [2]

Present day

The town today is little more than a stop on the highway, with a store, tavern and hall utilised by the surrounding agricultural district in the southern Shire of Narrogin. A group called Highbury District Community Council report to council on issues affecting the area, and in 2006 successfully proposed the construction of a war memorial next to the hall to honour those from the district who had fought and died overseas.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shire of Narrogin. Shire of Narrogin. Wolwolling Pool. inHerit. State Heritage Office, Government of Western Australia. 9 May 2017. Perth, WA. 1 January 2017.
  2. News: Wolwolling. 9 May 2017. The West Australian. 29 June 1905. Perth WA. 6.
  3. News: Wolwolling. 9 May 2017. The West Australian. 19 July 1906. Perth, WA. 9.
  4. News: News and notes. 9 May 2017. The West Australian. 15 June 1904. Perth, WA. 6.