Darlington, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Darlington, Western Australia, is a locality in the Shire of Mundaring
on the Darling Scarp
, dissected by Nyaania Creek
and north of the Helena River
.
. Between Darlington and Boya there are two abandoned quarries: C. Y. O'Connor
's 'Fremantle Harbour Works Quarry’, now known as 'Hudman Road Amphitheatre', and the Mountain Quarry which is also called Boya quarry. They are situated on the southern slope of Greenmount Hill which is defined by the Great Eastern Highway
to the North, and the Helena River
to the South. The boundary with Glen Forrest
to the east has shifted a few times.
Fault which trends North-South across the south-west of Western Australia, defining what is known as the 'Perth Hills'.
Darlington was unplanned. Darlington Hall was originally the winery cellar building.
Darlington was bisected by the Eastern Railway [1890 - 1954 traffic ceased, 1965/1966 the line was closed and removed] which in later years of operation was known as the 'Mundaring Loop'. Now the Railway Reserve Heritage Trail
or 'bridle trail', as it is known by locals, has become a popular walking and bike trail.
Darlington had extensive orchards during the First World War era. It has also, due to its cooler ‘hills climate', had a number of guest houses. D. H. Lawrence
stayed in one for a short time during his visit to Australia. Guest houses were also used as convalescent homes during the Second World War period. In the mid twentieth century significant numbers of artists had lived in or been associated with the small community. By the late twentieth century subdivisions of land and the breakup of farms and orchards contributed to an increase in the local population.
, Darlington became established as a popular picnic area, country drive destination, and a place for holiday homes.
Writers, artists and others seeking to be separate from Perth's extensive suburban sand plain had sought the location for its natural surroundings. The artists gained the most publicity for their residence, while the writers and others tended to keep their privacy.
Some of the community groups are over 40 years old. For example, the Darlington Residents and Ratepayers Association evolved from the earlier Darlington Progress Association, the Darlington Arts Festival as well. The tennis, cricket and other sports clubs have similar heritage. A newer arrival, the Darlington Club, is less than two years old and is involved in sustaining community involvement and use of the Darlington Hall.
It is perhaps one of the few 'hills' communities to be served by several primary schools—the Darlington Primary School (State school), Tree-Tops Montessori School, and Helena College.
The Darlington Arts Festival
, an annual event, has been going for more than 40 years. It includes art exhibitions and other events on the Darlington oval.
The 2006 'Trek the Trail' event was organised on the Railway Reserve Heritage Trail
and went from Mundaring to Darlington, and included events on the oval.
The Darlington Review
is a monthly publication of some 50 years standing, featuring stories, news, advertisements and other material of local interest. It is one of the few of its kind to serve any hills community for such a long time and is delivered to each address in the locality.
The Mundaring shire council has defined the locality by placing 'Locality of Darlington' signs on its entrance roads at the administrative boundary.
Shire of Mundaring
The Shire of Mundaring is a Local Government Area on the eastern fringe of metropolitan Perth, the capital of Western Australia. The Shire covers an area of and has a population of 35,097 .-History:...
on the Darling Scarp
Darling Scarp
The Darling Scarp, also referred to as the Darling Range or Darling Ranges, is a low escarpment running north-south to the east of the Swan Coastal Plain and Perth, Western Australia...
, dissected by Nyaania Creek
Nyaania Creek
Nyaania was also a stopping place and locality name associated with the first route of the Eastern Railway between Bellevue and Mundaring in Western Australia-Significance:...
and north of the Helena River
Helena River
The Helena River is a tributary of the Swan River in Western Australia. The river rises in country east of Mount Dale and moves to the north west to Mundaring Weir, where it is dammed...
.
Location
About one kilometre to the west of Darlington and lower on the Darling Scarp lies the locality of BoyaBoya, Western Australia
Boya is a locality on the Darling Scarp, in the Shire of Mundaring, Western Australia. On the south side of Greenmount Hill, and just west of Darlington....
. Between Darlington and Boya there are two abandoned quarries: C. Y. O'Connor
C. Y. O'Connor
Charles Yelverton O'Connor CMG was an Irish engineer who is best-known for his work in Australia, especially the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme.-Early life:...
's 'Fremantle Harbour Works Quarry’, now known as 'Hudman Road Amphitheatre', and the Mountain Quarry which is also called Boya quarry. They are situated on the southern slope of Greenmount Hill which is defined by the Great Eastern Highway
Great Eastern Highway
The Great Eastern Highway is a major road between the Western Australian cities of Perth and Kalgoorlie. It is a key route for vehicles accessing the eastern wheatbelt and the eastern goldfields...
to the North, and the Helena River
Helena River
The Helena River is a tributary of the Swan River in Western Australia. The river rises in country east of Mount Dale and moves to the north west to Mundaring Weir, where it is dammed...
to the South. The boundary with Glen Forrest
Glen Forrest, Western Australia
Glen Forrest is a suburb within the Shire of Mundaring, south of John Forrest National Park, west of Mahogany Creek, east of Darlington, and north of the Helena River...
to the east has shifted a few times.
Geology
Darlington is located upon the escarpment of the DarlingDarling
Darling is a term of endearment of Anglo-Saxon origin.It may also refer to:-Places:In Australia:*Darling Downs, a region in Queensland, Australia*Darling Harbour, New South Wales in Sydney, Australia*Darling Heights, Queensland...
Fault which trends North-South across the south-west of Western Australia, defining what is known as the 'Perth Hills'.
History
Darlington developed as a locality from the Darlington Winery in the late nineteenth century. Unlike Glen Forrest and GreenmountGreenmount, Western Australia
Greenmount is a locality and a geographical feature in the Shire of Mundaring, Western Australia, on the edge of the Darling Scarp. It is a vital point in the transport routes from the Swan Coastal Plain into the hinterland of Western Australia....
Darlington was unplanned. Darlington Hall was originally the winery cellar building.
Darlington was bisected by the Eastern Railway [1890 - 1954 traffic ceased, 1965/1966 the line was closed and removed] which in later years of operation was known as the 'Mundaring Loop'. Now the Railway Reserve Heritage Trail
Railway Reserve Heritage Trail
Railway Reserves Heritage Trail, also on some maps as Rail reserve heritage trail or Rail reserves historical trail - and frequently referred to locally as the 'Bridle Trail' or 'Bridle Track' , is within the Shire of Mundaring in Western Australia....
or 'bridle trail', as it is known by locals, has become a popular walking and bike trail.
Darlington had extensive orchards during the First World War era. It has also, due to its cooler ‘hills climate', had a number of guest houses. D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence
David Herbert Richards Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter who published as D. H. Lawrence. His collected works represent an extended reflection upon the dehumanising effects of modernity and industrialisation...
stayed in one for a short time during his visit to Australia. Guest houses were also used as convalescent homes during the Second World War period. In the mid twentieth century significant numbers of artists had lived in or been associated with the small community. By the late twentieth century subdivisions of land and the breakup of farms and orchards contributed to an increase in the local population.
Identity
Very early on, because of its altitude and separation from the Swan Coastal PlainSwan Coastal Plain
The Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia is the geographic feature which contains the Swan River as it travels west to the Indian Ocean. The coastal plain continues well beyond the boundaries of the Swan River and its tributaries, as a geological and biological zone, one of Western Australia's...
, Darlington became established as a popular picnic area, country drive destination, and a place for holiday homes.
Writers, artists and others seeking to be separate from Perth's extensive suburban sand plain had sought the location for its natural surroundings. The artists gained the most publicity for their residence, while the writers and others tended to keep their privacy.
Some of the community groups are over 40 years old. For example, the Darlington Residents and Ratepayers Association evolved from the earlier Darlington Progress Association, the Darlington Arts Festival as well. The tennis, cricket and other sports clubs have similar heritage. A newer arrival, the Darlington Club, is less than two years old and is involved in sustaining community involvement and use of the Darlington Hall.
It is perhaps one of the few 'hills' communities to be served by several primary schools—the Darlington Primary School (State school), Tree-Tops Montessori School, and Helena College.
The Darlington Arts Festival
Darlington Arts Festival
Darlington Arts Festival is a festival held annually in Darlington, Western Australia.The origins of the festival were in the relationship between the artists resident in Darlington in the 1950s, and the local voluntary community fire brigade....
, an annual event, has been going for more than 40 years. It includes art exhibitions and other events on the Darlington oval.
The 2006 'Trek the Trail' event was organised on the Railway Reserve Heritage Trail
Railway Reserve Heritage Trail
Railway Reserves Heritage Trail, also on some maps as Rail reserve heritage trail or Rail reserves historical trail - and frequently referred to locally as the 'Bridle Trail' or 'Bridle Track' , is within the Shire of Mundaring in Western Australia....
and went from Mundaring to Darlington, and included events on the oval.
The Darlington Review
Darlington Review
Darlington ReviewLocal monthly newspaper for Darlington, Western Australia.Possibly one of the longest lasting community newspapers of its sort in Western Australia, commenced in 1954...
is a monthly publication of some 50 years standing, featuring stories, news, advertisements and other material of local interest. It is one of the few of its kind to serve any hills community for such a long time and is delivered to each address in the locality.
The Mundaring shire council has defined the locality by placing 'Locality of Darlington' signs on its entrance roads at the administrative boundary.
Notable residents
- George Temple-PooleGeorge Temple-PooleGeorge Thomas Temple-Poole was a British architect and public servant, primarily known for his work in Western Australia from 1886....
- Robert JuniperRobert JuniperRobert Litchfield Juniper AM is a Western Australian artist who has also been an illustrator, art teacher, sculptor and printmaker.-Early life:He was born in the wheat-belt town of Merredin, Western Australia....
- Richard WoldendorpRichard WoldendorpRichard Leo Woldendorp is an Australian photographer.Born in Utrecht, Netherlands, he migrated to Australia in 1950. He began photographing in 1956, initially on various projects in Indonesia. He became a professional photographer in 1961 after winning two prizes in the Craven-A national...
(now Glen Forrest) - D. H. LawrenceD. H. LawrenceDavid Herbert Richards Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter who published as D. H. Lawrence. His collected works represent an extended reflection upon the dehumanising effects of modernity and industrialisation...
- short term - A. O. NevilleA. O. NevilleAuber Octavius Neville was a public servant, notably Chief Protector of Aborigines, in Western Australia.-Early career:...
- R. W. Ketteridge
External links
- Darlington Village website
- Mundaring and Hills Historical Society Website
- Darlington on Geoscience AustraliaGeoscience AustraliaGeoscience Australia is an agency of the Australian federal government. It carries out geoscientific research.On a user pays basis it produces geospatial products such as topographic maps and satellite imagery.-History:...