Gascoyne Junction, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Gascoyne Junction is a small town in the Gascoyne
region of Western Australia
, inland from Carnarvon
on the junction of the Gascoyne River
and Lyons River. At the 2006 census
, Gascoyne Junction had a population of 149.
in 1839 after his friend, Captain J. Gascoyne (RN).
A police station was built in about 1897, and settlers asked the Government to declare a townsite. By 1909, a general store and other buildings had been erected on private land, and in 1912, the Government finally acceded to the request, naming the town "Killili" after a local Aboriginal
word meaning "bullrush" following the Surveyor General's request for a "euphonious native name". For many years, the police station, road board (1912) and hotel were the only buildings in the area, and in 1938, the Roads Board complained about the name, saying that "Gascoyne Junction" and "The Junction" were the names in common use, and asking the Lands Department to "expunge" the name of Killili. The name was changed and gazetted in 1939.
The local road board office, now a heritage-listed site, was used as a meeting place for local associations, and later as the first school in the area (1960–1965) and, since the late 1990s, as a museum. The town's population has been stable since the 1950s.
fine wool industries, and serves as a gateway to nearby attractions such as Mount Augustus National Park
. The town contains the council office, as well as The Junction Hotel, which offers accommodation and pub meals and was originally constructed as the general store (1906). A fuel station, visitor centre and picnic facilities at Federation Park (2001) are also available, and a library at the school is open to the public, while a telecentre
is proposed. The Junction Hotel has facilities for Caravans, camper trailers and motorhomes as does a basic caravan park adjacent to the hotel.
who run a diesel power station in the town. The town supplies its own water from bores, which is treated by the Water Corporation
. At present no sealed roads service the town but the main road from Carnarvon is being sealed at a cost of $206 million. Australia Post services the region with private contractors, who also deliver petroleum and cargo.
program. Many of the students are of Indigenous
origin. The nearest TAFE facility is in Carnarvon, and the nearest university courses are offered at Carnarvon High School through Open Universities Australia, and through Pilbara TAFE in Karratha
and Port Hedland
, which offer some Curtin University courses through the Centre for Regional Education.
floods of late December 2010.
Gascoyne
Gascoyne is the name of a number of places, including:* Gascoyne , a region which contains** the town of Gascoyne Junction, Western Australia** the Gascoyne River** the Shire of Upper Gascoyne* Gascoyne, North Dakota, a town...
region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, inland from Carnarvon
Carnarvon, Western Australia
Carnarvon is a coastal town situated approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia. It lies at the mouth of the Gascoyne River on the Indian Ocean. The popular Shark Bay world heritage area lies to the south of the town and the Ningaloo Reef lies to the north...
on the junction of the Gascoyne River
Gascoyne River
At 760 km, the Gascoyne River is the longest river in Western Australia.The river rises below Wilgoona Hill in the Robinson Ranges west of the Gibson Desert and it flows into Shark Bay and the Indian Ocean at Carnarvon....
and Lyons River. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Gascoyne Junction had a population of 149.
History
The town is named for its position at the junction of the Gascoyne and Lyons Rivers. The Gascoyne River was named by the explorer Lieutenant George GreyGeorge Grey
George Grey may refer to:*Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet , British politician*George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent *Sir George Grey , Governor of Cape Colony, South Australia and New Zealand...
in 1839 after his friend, Captain J. Gascoyne (RN).
A police station was built in about 1897, and settlers asked the Government to declare a townsite. By 1909, a general store and other buildings had been erected on private land, and in 1912, the Government finally acceded to the request, naming the town "Killili" after a local Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
word meaning "bullrush" following the Surveyor General's request for a "euphonious native name". For many years, the police station, road board (1912) and hotel were the only buildings in the area, and in 1938, the Roads Board complained about the name, saying that "Gascoyne Junction" and "The Junction" were the names in common use, and asking the Lands Department to "expunge" the name of Killili. The name was changed and gazetted in 1939.
The local road board office, now a heritage-listed site, was used as a meeting place for local associations, and later as the first school in the area (1960–1965) and, since the late 1990s, as a museum. The town's population has been stable since the 1950s.
Present day
Gascoyne Junction is now a centre for mining, pastoral and desert merinoMerino
The Merino is an economically influential breed of sheep prized for its wool. Merinos are regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep...
fine wool industries, and serves as a gateway to nearby attractions such as Mount Augustus National Park
Mount Augustus National Park
Mount Augustus National Park is located 852 km north of Perth, 490 km by road east of Carnarvon and 390 km northwest of Meekatharra, in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia...
. The town contains the council office, as well as The Junction Hotel, which offers accommodation and pub meals and was originally constructed as the general store (1906). A fuel station, visitor centre and picnic facilities at Federation Park (2001) are also available, and a library at the school is open to the public, while a telecentre
Telecentre
A telecentre is a public place where people can access computers, the Internet, and other digital technologies that enable them to gather information, create, learn, and communicate with others while they develop essential digital skills...
is proposed. The Junction Hotel has facilities for Caravans, camper trailers and motorhomes as does a basic caravan park adjacent to the hotel.
Transport and Utilities
Power is supplied by Horizon PowerHorizon Power
Horizon Power is a commercially focused, State Government-owned power company that provides power supplies to Western Australia. It is responsible for generating, procuring, distributing and retailing electricity to residential, industrial and commercial customers and resource developments in its...
who run a diesel power station in the town. The town supplies its own water from bores, which is treated by the Water Corporation
Water Corporation
-Overview:The Water Corporation is the principal supplier of water, wastewater and drainage services throughout the state of Western Australia...
. At present no sealed roads service the town but the main road from Carnarvon is being sealed at a cost of $206 million. Australia Post services the region with private contractors, who also deliver petroleum and cargo.
Education
A new Remote Community School was opened in 2005 for kindergarten through year 12, with high school and some TAFE classes being provided through School of Isolated and Distance Education. It replaces an earlier school going back to 1960, and its students historically have utilised the Carnarvon School of the AirSchool of the Air
School of the Air is a generic term for correspondence schools catering for the primary and early secondary education of children in remote and outback Australia.-History:...
program. Many of the students are of Indigenous
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
origin. The nearest TAFE facility is in Carnarvon, and the nearest university courses are offered at Carnarvon High School through Open Universities Australia, and through Pilbara TAFE in Karratha
Karratha, Western Australia
-Facilities:A range of hotel, motel, B&B and caravan/RV accommodation is available for visitors. However, as the town is booming, accommodation is often hard to come by.The town has restaurants, a tavern, two hotels and two night clubs...
and Port Hedland
Port Hedland, Western Australia
Port Hedland is the highest tonnage port in Australia and largest town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with a population of approximately 14,000 ....
, which offer some Curtin University courses through the Centre for Regional Education.
2010 floods
Evacuation was required due to the Gascoyne RiverGascoyne River
At 760 km, the Gascoyne River is the longest river in Western Australia.The river rises below Wilgoona Hill in the Robinson Ranges west of the Gibson Desert and it flows into Shark Bay and the Indian Ocean at Carnarvon....
floods of late December 2010.
External links
- Gascoyne Junction (WA Tourism)
- Gascoyne Junction - Climate (Bureau of Meteorology)