Koolanooka, Western Australia

Koolanooka is a small town in the MidWest region of Western Australia. It is situated between Morawa and Perenjori just off the Mullewa-Wubin road. At the 2006 census, Koolanooka had a population of 46.[1]

Koolanooka
Western Australia
Koolanooka
Coordinates29.267°S 116.067°E / -29.267; 116.067
Population46 (2006 census)[1]
Established1916
Postcode(s)6623
Elevation280 m (919 ft)
Location
  • 361 km (224 mi) N of Perth
  • 10 km (6 mi) SE of Morawa
LGA(s)Shire of Morawa
State electorate(s)Moore
Federal Division(s)Durack

In 1932 the Wheat Pool of Western Australia announced that the town would have two grain elevators, each fitted with an engine, installed at the railway siding.[2]

Name

Originating as a station on the Mullewa to Wongan Hills railway line, it was initially known as Bowgada when it was planned in 1913. The name Bowgada was taken from the pastoral station located nearby. Shortly before the line was opened in 1914 the name changed to Koolanooka and the next station south on the railway line was named Bowgada instead. The townsite was gazetted in 1916.[3]

The town takes its name from the nearby Koolanooka Spring. The word is Aboriginal in origin and means place of plenty wild turkeys.

Iron ore mining

An iron ore mine was opened in the area in 1965 along with the associated railway spur line, powerhouse, port facilities at Geraldton and housing for workers in Morawa.[4]

The original 1966 Koolanooka iron mine was the first iron ore exporting mine in Western Australia.[5]

In 2006 iron ore mining was re-commencing at the location.

Transport

It is served by a railway station on the narrow gauge, originally Western Australian Government Railways now Brookfield Rail network, on what was known as the Mullewa line.[6]

Adjacent railway stations
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References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Koolanooka (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  2. "Country elevators". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 6 July 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  3. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names – K". Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  4. "Koolanooka Mine". Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  5. "Koolanooka Mine". 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013.
  6. "Railway Washaways". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 29 March 1927. p. 8. Retrieved 17 October 2012.



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