Katanning - Places to See

Katanning Flour Mill Museum
In 1891 Frederick Henry Piesse built the Roller Flour Mill. It had the effect of encouraging farmers in the area to grow wheat and was very much at the heart of the town's early economic success. The mill, which is located prominently on the corner of Clive Street and Austral Terrace, is now the successful and interesting Katanning Flour Mill Museum. The machinery is still intact and the museum has a number of interesting displays recalling the early history of the town.

Piesse's Buildings
To appreciate the importance that Piesse had on the early development of the town it is worth noting that virtually every building between the Mill and Piesse's statue was either built by Piesse or built using bricks from Piesse's brickworks. The man's hand is on everything in the town. The Piesse Complex in Austral Terrace, now a modern shopping centre, was built in 1901 as a kind of department store. The Katanning Unit Hotel was built in 1889 using bricks from Piesse's brickworks and the King George Hostel, on the corner of Albion Street and Austral Terrace, was built for Piesse's son in 1913 and originally used to house mill workers.

Katanning Town Hall
Walking back up Austral Terrace and crossing Clive Street the visitor is struck by the huge Katanning Town Hall. Piesse donated 10 000 bricks to help with the construction of the building which was completed in 1896. The ornate plaster ceilings in the Town Hall are well worth inspecting.

St Andrews Church
Around the corner in Amabel Street is St Andrews Church which was opened by Mrs Piesse in 1898 after her husband had donated 40 000 bricks. Surprisingly, for an area where timber is plentiful, the pews are made from imported New Zealand kauri.

Kobeelya
It is appropriate to finish a tour of Piesse's involvement with the town by visiting the grand family mansion 'Kobeelya' which F. H. Piesse built in 1902. Given that Katanning was only 14 years old at the time it is a remarkably urbane building. It must have seemed incongruous in a small country town to have had a seven bedroom mansion with a billiard room, hot and cold running water, a ballroom, tennis courts and a croquet field. It is a fitting monument to the man who created the town. It is now owned by the Baptist Union of WA, however it is possible to visit this remarkable mansion by contacting (08) 9821 1922

Katanning Museum
Across the railway line in Amabel Street is the Katanning Museum which is located in the town's first Government School. Open from 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm on Sundays or by appointment, the Museum houses an interesting collection of memorabilia and artifacts relating to the early history of the town.

Katanning's Mosque and Winery
Two of Katanning's most interesting buildings lie on Andrews Road (turn west onto Conroy Street from Clive Street and north into Andrews Road). Here are the unusual sights of a mosque and the ruins of a Winery.

The mosque was built in 1980 by the local Islamic community who arrived in Katanning in 1974 after moving from Christmas Island. The community has continued to grow with relatives from the Cocos Islands moving to Katanning.

The ruins of the winery are one more reminder of the domination of the Piesse family. The Winery was built by A. E. Piesse in 1904 to process grapes from the Piesse vineyards. Many of the casks and wine making tools were subsequently sold to the monks from the New Norcia Mission.

An excellent short history of Katanning, combined with directions to most of the town's major sights, is contained in the Katanning-Piesse Heritage Trail.