Dumbleyung, Western Australia

Dumbleyung is a town and shire in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 267 kilometres (166 mi) south-east of Perth between Wagin and Lake Grace on State Route 107.

Dumbleyung
Western Australia
Dumbleyung Tavern
Dumbleyung
Coordinates33.32°S 117.74°E / -33.32; 117.74
Population263 (2016 census)[1]
Established1907
Postcode(s)6350
Location
  • 267 km (166 mi) from Perth
  • 39 km (24 mi) from Wagin
LGA(s)Shire of Dumbleyung
State electorate(s)Roe
Federal Division(s)O'Connor

History

Dumbleyung's name is of Noongar origin, coming from "Dambeling" which possibly means "large lake or inland sea" (although another source suggests it came from "dumbung", a game played with bent sticks and a hard piece of fruit.[2] The lake nearby was discovered and named Dambeling Lake by explorers Henry Landor and Henry Maxwell Lefroy in 1843, and the current spelling was used by surveyors in the 1860s and 1870s.[3] Pastoralists and sandalwood cutters moved into the area, initially settling at Nippering, north of Lake Dumbleyung and 10 kilometres (6 mi) west of the present town.

The first three families to settle in the area were the Cronin, Kersley and Bartram families. George Kersley, Sr. and his future son-in-law Henry Bartram were from pioneer families of the Beverley district and they used to take their sheep flocks from Beverley to Lake Dumbleyung for grazing. In 1875 Kersley received the first grazing leases and the Cronin family from Cork Ireland settled at "Bunkin" in 1878. Bartram settled his young family at "Wheatfield" on the edge of the Lake in 1886.

However, in 1907, Dumbleyung was gazetted as a townsite and became the terminus of a railway from Wagin.

Tenders were called for the construction of an Agricultural Hall in 1909,[4] and it was completed by 1910. The National Bank temporarily opened its town branch in the hall.[5]

By 1915, Dumbleyung had grown to become the major rural service town in the region.

Present day

The nearby Dumbleyung Lake is a well-known attraction. The lake is famous for Donald Campbell breaking the world water speed record there in 1964 in his boat, Bluebird.

Dumbleyung itself is a service centre with a post office, school, tavern, public library, caravan park and other facilities. Both the tavern and roadhouse offer counter meals. The community used to host the Bluebird Festival each November, though it was discontinued and effectively replaced by the 'Taste of Dumbleyung' event; the festival showcases the produce of the region alongside local entertainment attracting visitors to the town each April.[6][7]

The surrounding areas produce wheat and other cereal crops. The town is a receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling.[8]

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See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Dumbleyung (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  2. "Dumbleyung". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  3. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names – D". Retrieved 17 April 2007.
  4. "Country". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 22 April 1909. p. 2. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  5. "Country". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 28 February 1910. p. 3. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  6. The Wagin Argus (10 November 2005). "Bluebird weekend an outstanding success". Retrieved 28 October 2006.
  7. https://www.dumbleyungcrc.com/quack-chat-news/its-back-taste-of-dumbleyung-2020}}
  8. "CBH receival sites" (PDF). 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2013.

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