History
TOWN HISTORY
The name Perenjori is derived from the Aboriginal word “Perangery”, meaning water hole. Sir John Forrest conducted exploration 1869, and surveyed the area in 1896. Gold was discovered in 1894. When the railway line was officially opened in 1915, the town’s estimated population was 100. Perenjori was officially announced as a town on February 16th 1916.
Over time the spelling of the town and shire changed to Perenjori. Today it is one of the largest agricultural Shires in WA, with a combination of farming, pastoral and mining leases. In 2012 the town hosted a centenary celebration of its history.
Historical sites around the town site include Camel Soak, the John Forrest Lookout, Rothsay Heritage Trail, and Monsignor Hawes Church.
To find out more of the history of Perenjori visit the WA State Library and search for Perenjori.
More information about other town sites within the Shire of Perenjori click here:
Bowgada
Bunjil
Caron
Latham
Fowler St 1920
AGRICULTURAL HISTORY
Dan Woodall was the first permanent white settler to the region and managed Perangery Station in 1905. In 1906 Matt Farrell first came to Perangery carting goods from Rothsay to Yalgoo and Mount Magnet. He marked trees where he wished to take up land in the area. The four Farrell brothers, Thomas, William, Matthew, George, then took up the land. The Lands Department approved agricultural lots of 1,000 acres, instead of huge pastoral leases granted previously.
Jim Summers Harvesting, Latham
The first crops from 1911 to 1913 were sown by hand and used largely for horse feed, home food, hay and seed wheat. The railway line was officially opened in 1915 population was 100. Today Perenjori if one of the largest agricultural shires in WA with farming, pastoral and mining leases. Perenjori has four Co-operative Bulk Holding (CBH) receival points and farmers grow a wide range of cereals and legumes.
Wheatbag Stacks
Floods 1999
HOME OF THE WORLDS FIRST HEADER MUSTER
A raw idea from a dreamer, the vision of a farmer and a small country community’s support and enthusiasm, culminated in an entry into the Guinness Book of Records for having 56 combine harvesters working in the same paddock simultaneously.
The staging of a spectacle never before witnessed in such a scale, occurred on the 19th December 2003 on the Cannon Family’s property at Bunjil. The harvesters cut a swath of 560 metres, stripped a 200ha (500 acres) wheat crop in twenty-four minutes actual harvesting time, producing 495 tonne of grain.
‘SOUND OF THE COCKIES’ BOOK
‘Sound of the Cockies, Perenjori: 100 years of stories’
Written by: Bill & Jenny Bunbury
Published and launched at the Agricultural Show on the 15th August 2015.
“From Western Australia’s northern Wheatbelt comes tales of courage and resilience from men and women who have lived and farmed in this harsh but beautiful landscape since European settlement. These stories also capture the cultural beliefs and personal histories of local First Australians.
Drawing on historical accounts and interviews with people who have lived or still live in the Shire of Perenjori, ‘Sound of the Cockies, Perenjori: 100 years of stories’, records efforts to keep family farms viable and small towns alive through the tribulations of two world wars, the Great Depression, droughts and rural population decline.
It tells lessons learned and bold experiments to revitalise the shire’s economy through alternative farming practices and by generating new sources of income from mining and land conservation.
But it also tells of deep connection to place and community, an affection that resonates through the stories of all those who have come and gone, and those who never left.”
Books are available for purchase for $35ea from the Shire of Perenjori, Perenjori Visitor Centre and the Perenjori Community Resource Centre. Postal orders can be arranged with postage costing $15 (1-3 books to one address anywhere in Australia). To arrange a postal order, please call the Shire on (08) 9973 0100.