Yoweragabbie, Western Australia Explained

Type:town
Yoweragabbie
State:wa
Lga:Shire of Mount Magnet
Local Map:yes
Zoom:8
Postcode:6638
Est:1914
Coordinates:-28.233°N 117.633°W
Elevation:376
Stategov:North West
Fedgov:Durack
Dist1:576
Dir1:NNE
Location1:Perth
Dist2:28
Dir2:SW

Yoweragabbie is a small town in the Mid West region of Western Australia between the towns of Mount Magnet and Yalgoo.

The town originated as a railway siding on the Mullewa to Cue railway line in 1898 when the line was opened, which was constructed to service the surrounding pastoral stations. In 1913 land was set aside for a townsite and was gazetted in 1914. Very little development ever took place at the town.

The name of the town is Aboriginal in origin and is taken for a nearby well. The well had first been recorded on maps surveyed in 1886.

In 1896, following heavy rain, the townsite and the surrounding stations were flooded.[1] The area was inundated again in 1926 resulting in rail services being cancelled.[2]

A pastoral lease, Yoweragabbie Station, existed since as a lease 1880 in the area when it was owned by the Watson family.[3] In 1926 the property had a flock of 21,800 sheep and produced a clip of 458 bales of wool.[4] The station was sold in 1934 to the Yalgoo Pastoral Company and Dr. A. Thompson for over £38,000, at this stage it occupied an area of 354796acres and had a carrying capacity of 30,000 sheep.[5] The Yoweragabbie railway siding was situated on the property which shared boundaries with Murrum, Nalbarra and Mundinia Stations.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: The weather in the country. . Perth. 1 April 1896 . 4 May 2011 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: Useful rains . . Perth . 11 March 1926 . 4 May 2011 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: A Murchison pioneer. . . Perth . 5 October 1931 . 16 September 2013 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: The Yoweragabble clip . . Western Australia . 16 October 1926 . 16 September 2013 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Yoweragabbie Station. . Western Australia . 14 April 1934 . 17 September 2013 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: Advertising. . . Perth, Western Australia. 9 March 1934 . 10 March 2014. 23. National Library of Australia.