Witchcliffe, Western Australia Explained

Type:town
Witchcliffe
State:wa
Lga:Shire of Augusta-Margaret River
Local Map:yes
Zoom:11
Coordinates:-34.03°N 115.1°W
Postcode:6286
Est:1926
Elevation:89
Stategov:Warren-Blackwood
Fedgov:Forrest
Dist1:286
Dir1:south
Location1:Perth
Dist2:9
Dir2:south
Location2:Margaret River
Dist3:41
Dir3:north
Location3:Augusta

Witchcliffe is a small town in the South West region of Western Australia, located a few kilometres south of Margaret River on the Bussell Highway. The name originates from a cave in the area, Witchcliffe cave, that was recorded by a surveyor in 1900. It is believed the name was given by the Bussell family whose property, Wallcliffe, was established in the area in the 1850s.

History

In 1924 the government extended the Flinders Bay Branch Railway to Witchcliffe. The siding was to be named Narawary but a post office already existed at the site with the name Witchcliffe, having opened in 1923,[1] so the siding was named Witchcliffe in 1925. Lots were surveyed and sold along the siding in 1924 and the townsite was gazetted in 1926.

The town was built around the timber industry, with the Witchcliffe sawmill being built in 1922 just east of town for the W.A. Jarrah Forests Ltd, which was taken over by the Adelaide Timber company in 1929.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Dzelme, John (1976) Place and Date Stamps of Western Australia, p. 121, Perth, W.A: published by the author
  2. Gunzburg, Adrian and Austin, Jeff (2008) Rails through the Bush: Timber and Firewood Tramways and Railway Contractors of Western Australia Perth, W.A. Rail Heritage WA. page 134