Wellstead, Western Australia Explained

Type:town
Wellstead
State:wa
Lga:City of Albany
Local Map:yes
Zoom:9
Coordinates:-34.5°N 118.6°W
Postcode:6328
Est:1965
Elevation:126
Stategov:Electoral district of Albany
Fedgov:O'Connor
Dist1:476
Dir1:south east
Location1:Perth
Dist2:100
Dir2:north east
Location2:Albany
Dist3:80
Dir3:south
Location3:Jerramungup

Wellstead is a small rural town situated in Western Australia in the Great Southern region between Albany and Esperance.

The name commemorates the Wellstead family who settled in the area in 1860 and had held grazing land between Cape Riche (which is part of the locality) and Bremer Bay.Farmland was opened up in the area in the 1960s for cereal cropping and land was set aside for a town site. The town site was gazetted in 1965 shortly after establishing a telephone exchange.[1]

John Wellstead still lived in the area in 1881 and sold 700 head of cattle via the market in Albany early the same year.[2] He died in Albany in 1896[3] but his sons, including John Jr., continued the family pastoral interests in the area.

The surrounding areas produce wheat and other cereal crops. The town is a receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cape Riche. State Heritage Office. 19 June 2023.
  2. News: Classified Advertising. . . Perth. 15 February 1881 . 8 June 2012 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: Mrs. J. Wellstead Sen. . . Perth. 10 August 1907 . 8 June 2012 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  4. Web site: CBH receival sites. 2011. 1 April 2013.