Broomehill

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This was published 15 years ago

Broomehill

Broomehill
Small wheat and sheep service centre
Located 315 km south east of Perth, Broomehill is a small wheat and sheep service town which came into existence as a result of the construction of the Great Southern Railway. There had been some settlement in the area as early as the 1860s but the construction of the railway line through the tiny settlement of Broomehill (it had been named after Sir Frederick Napier Broome, Governor of Western Australia from 1883-1889) in 1889 ensured that Broomehill became the main town in the area.

Members of the tiny Broomehill Historical Society agree that 'the only incident in the history of the town that might be of national interest is the blazing of a trail from Broomehill to Coolgardie - directly across country - in 1893 following the discovery of gold in Coolgardie. The party was led by John Holland and the trail became known as Holland's Track. Prospectors came from all directions to Albany and travelled to Broomehill by train and then, usually, walked the rest of the way wheeling all their possessions, rations, and equipment in their wheelbarrows. The distance of the track was somewhere over 450 km.' A memorial to Holland's Track is located outside the Shire Office.

The town site of Broomehill was officially declared in 1897 however the locals celebrated the town's centenary in 1989 presumably recognising the arrival of the railway and the establishment of the local Post Office as being more important than any official gazetting of the town.


Things to see:

Attractions in the town
One delightful idiosyncracy is that the town seems to have two main streets. There is the main street on the Great Southern Highway and another 'main street' one block away.

The Broomehill Historical Society has an interesting folk museum located in the local church. It can be opened on request.


Hotels

Imperial Hotel
Jasper St
Broomehill WA 6318
Telephone: (08) 9824 1222


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