Mingenew, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Mingenew is a town in Western Australia
, located 383 kilometres (238 mi) north of the state capital, Perth
. It is the seat of government for the Shire of Mingenew
.
word recorded by Europe
an settlers in 1856, possibly deriving from either the words Minganu “the place of many ants” or Mininoo “the place of many waters". Mingenew and the surrounding Irwin District were first explored by the brothers Augustus Charles
and Francis Thomas Gregory
in August 1847, looking for suitable grazing land. Settlement of the district then occurred in the 1850s because it was ideal country for cattle
. The Midland Railway opened in August 1891 and private land was subdivided, followed in 1906 by subdivision of Government land. In 1906, the town of Mingenew was gazetted.
and lupins.
Mingenew is known as The Grain Centre. The Mingenew grain facility (CBH, Co-operative Bulk Handling
) is recognised as the largest inland grower fed receival facility in the Southern Hemisphere, with a holding capacity of 403,000 tons. There is a giant Wheat Stalk Sculpture at Cecil Newton Park in the main street of the town, which is affectionately known as “Big Ears” by the locals, and emphasises the importance of wheat farming in the area.
The event is financially beneficial for the region, and injects a flurry of activity, tourism and community spirit into the town. In 2009, over the two day duration of the event, 8,000 people attended and hosted over 380 exhibitors.
Mingenew’s floral emblem is the Bird Beak Hakea (Hakea orthorrhyncha
).
Located 33km north east of Mingenew, the Coalseam Conservation Park is a renowned site for its carpets of native pink and white everlastings (Rhodanthe chlorocephala ss. rosea) and yellow pom pom (Cephalipterum drummondii) wildflowers. The area was named the Coalseam after the Gregory brothers discovered coal exposed within the sedimentary layers of the banks of the Irwin River in 1846. This marked the first discovery of coal in Western Australia, however, after a number of shafts were dug, only narrow seams of poor quality coal were found; thus the site was abandoned. The park is now a popular picnic place, where remnants of its mining history are still present as well as the many marine fossils embedded in the riverbank and the magnificent limestone cliffs from the Permian
Ice Age, 250 million years ago – the oldest geological era.
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...
, located 383 kilometres (238 mi) north of the state capital, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. It is the seat of government for the Shire of Mingenew
Shire of Mingenew
The Shire of Mingenew is a Local Government Area in the Mid West region of Western Australia, about southeast of the city of Geraldton and about north of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Mingenew.On 18 September 2009, it was...
.
History
Mingenew was named after Mingenew Spring, an AboriginalIndigenous 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 recorded by Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an settlers in 1856, possibly deriving from either the words Minganu “the place of many ants” or Mininoo “the place of many waters". Mingenew and the surrounding Irwin District were first explored by the brothers Augustus Charles
Augustus Gregory
Sir Augustus Charles Gregory KCMG. was an English-born Australian explorer. Between 1846 and 1858 he undertook four major expeditions.-Early years:...
and Francis Thomas Gregory
Francis Thomas Gregory
Francis Thomas Gregory was an English-born Australian explorer and politician.-Biography:Gregory was born at Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, England, and was the younger brother of the explorer Augustus Gregory...
in August 1847, looking for suitable grazing land. Settlement of the district then occurred in the 1850s because it was ideal country for cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
. The Midland Railway opened in August 1891 and private land was subdivided, followed in 1906 by subdivision of Government land. In 1906, the town of Mingenew was gazetted.
Agriculture
Today, the town's economy is based on the farming of sheep, wheatWheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and lupins.
Mingenew is known as The Grain Centre. The Mingenew grain facility (CBH, Co-operative Bulk Handling
Co-operative Bulk Handling
Co-operative Bulk Handling or Co-operative Bulk Group, commonly known as CBH, is a Western Australian based cooperative company that operates grain receival points and also markets grain...
) is recognised as the largest inland grower fed receival facility in the Southern Hemisphere, with a holding capacity of 403,000 tons. There is a giant Wheat Stalk Sculpture at Cecil Newton Park in the main street of the town, which is affectionately known as “Big Ears” by the locals, and emphasises the importance of wheat farming in the area.
Mingenew Expo
The Mingenew Lions Midwest Expo is a major annual agricultural field day that has been an important feature of the town since 1983. The Expo is traditionally held on a Thursday and Friday of the third week in September, and showcases aspects of agriculture, health, education, entertainment, lifestyle and general interest products and services.The event is financially beneficial for the region, and injects a flurry of activity, tourism and community spirit into the town. In 2009, over the two day duration of the event, 8,000 people attended and hosted over 380 exhibitors.
Wildflowers
Mingenew has many spectacular displays of wildflowers between late July to early October. Varieties include everlastings, hakeas, banksias and grevilleas. Mingenew is in the heart of the Western Australia’s “Wildflower Country”.Mingenew’s floral emblem is the Bird Beak Hakea (Hakea orthorrhyncha
Hakea orthorrhyncha
Hakea orthorrhyncha, commonly known as Bird Beak Hakea, is a shrub which is endemic to the Murchison River area of Western Australia....
).
Coalseam Conservation Park
Located 33km north east of Mingenew, the Coalseam Conservation Park is a renowned site for its carpets of native pink and white everlastings (Rhodanthe chlorocephala ss. rosea) and yellow pom pom (Cephalipterum drummondii) wildflowers. The area was named the Coalseam after the Gregory brothers discovered coal exposed within the sedimentary layers of the banks of the Irwin River in 1846. This marked the first discovery of coal in Western Australia, however, after a number of shafts were dug, only narrow seams of poor quality coal were found; thus the site was abandoned. The park is now a popular picnic place, where remnants of its mining history are still present as well as the many marine fossils embedded in the riverbank and the magnificent limestone cliffs from the Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
Ice Age, 250 million years ago – the oldest geological era.
Sports Clubs
Sport is an integral part of the fabric to the community of Mingenew.- Mingenew Football Club
- Mingenew Hockey Club
- Mingenew Netball Club
- Mingenew Tennis Club
- Mingenew Cricket Club
- Mingenew Turf Club website
- Mingenew Karate Club
- Mingenew Bowls Club
- Mingenew Golf Club