Calingiri
Town Information and History
Calingiri is a town located 143 km north-east of Perth and 34 km south-west of Wongan Hills. It is the administrative centre of the Shire of Victoria Plains. At the 2021 Census, the town and surrounding district recorded a population of 198 people.
The Calingiri to Perth Railway was pivitoal in the town's establishment in the early 1900s. The railway line extended north from Toodyay to Bolgart's original townsite in 1909. In 1914, the railway line was extended to the new Bolgart townsite. By the end of 1914, there was speculation about the most likely place for a town along the proposed northern extension of the railway line. Proposed sidings included the 8 mile at Wyening, 'Glendale' at Calcarra, and the 'Washpool' in Calingiri. As early as 1908, a tentative townsite was proposed at 'Washpool', and further approved by settlers after a cricket match in 1914.
'Washpool' also known as Calintrey, had been Higgin's pastoral lease, and the mission road crossed the proposed railway reserve at the washpool, hence the location of the siding at that place. The North Wyening settlers adopted the name of Calingiri for the district, and the Wyening Progress Association lapsed. In January 1915, the town of Calingiri was gazetted, and the Progress Association named the streets. A recreation reserve of 30 acres was set aside at 'Washpool' flats, and Tom Halse sold 16 acres for the Cemetery site. By 1916, the railway line had extended from Bolgart to the siding at Wyening. On 24 May 1917, the railway line from Wyening to Calingiri was opened. Calingiri was the head of the line in 1917.
Information thanks to the Shire of Victoria Plains via InHerit.
Town Facilities
Public toilets are available at the Calingiri Recreation Hall. Fuel is available at the general store located opposite the primary school on Cavell St (business hours only). A sports club/tavern and golf course are also available in town. Camping is also available in town. More information is available on the Shire of Victoria Plains website.
Cache Information
Parking is available off Railway St. Travellers towing caravans or camper trailers can pull off the road at the information bay when travelling northbound, else if travelling southbound will need to circle via the primary school to access the information bay.
This cache is a black bison within a fake rock. Please bring your own writing implement, as one is not provided!
It is located near a sign for Calingiri with the slogan 'Carnaby Country'. Calingiri's nearby surrounding nature reserves are believed to host to around 20 families of Carnaby's Cockatoos.
Public toilets are available at the Calingiri Recreation Hall. Fuel is available at the general store located opposite the primary school on Cavell St (business hours only). A sports club/tavern and golf course are also available in town. Camping is also available in town. More information is available on the Shire of Victoria Plains website.