Grass Patch, Western Australia

Grass Patch is a small town in the Mallee region of Western Australia, located 79 km north of Esperance on the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway. The town was named after a nearby farm of the same name that had been settled around 1896 and was renowned for bountiful crops and good grass.[1] The town is part of the Shire of Esperance,[2] and services the local farming community.

Grass Patch
Western Australia
Grass Patch
Coordinates33.23°S 121.72°E / -33.23; 121.72
Established1923
Postcode(s)6446
Elevation218 m (715 ft)
Location
  • 783 km (487 mi) SE of Perth
  • 78 km (48 mi) N of Esperance
  • 114 km (71 mi) S of Norseman
LGA(s)Shire of Esperance
State electorate(s)Roe
Federal Division(s)O'Connor

History

The townsite was proposed in 1910 when land in the area was being opened up, and as a watering spot for the planned Esperance to Norseman Railway,[1] which was completed 15 years later. Although the area was already well known as "Grass Patch", locals sought a more suitable name for the town when it was gazetted in 1923.[3] Of the three nominated, "Warden" was chosen. However, objections were soon raised about this name and later the same year it was changed back to Grass Patch.

The poor quality of the soil in the surrounding district made the development of farming in the area difficult and unproductive. In 1949 the Esperance Downs Research Station was established and it was discovered that the soil in the Esperance region was deficient in certain trace elements.[4] The addition of these trace elements to the soil has since improved fertility and crop yields a great deal, and the region has become an important agricultural district, successfully producing wheat, barley, canola, sheep and cattle. The town is a receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling.[5]

gollark: Ah, TJ09s.
gollark: It wouldn't *have* to be.
gollark: What would be limited?
gollark: By CBness anyway.
gollark: Then prizes would be more common than, say, xenowyrms.

References
  1. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names – G". Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  2. "Shire of Esperance". Shire of Esperance. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
  3. Western Australian Government Gazette, file 6756/21, 3 August 1923, p.1434. Gazetted as "Warden".
  4. "Esperance". Australian Heritage Magazine. Retrieved 15 July 2006.
  5. "CBH receival sites" (PDF). 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2013.



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