Bruce Rock, Western Australia Explained

Type:town
Bruce Rock
State:wa
Lga:Shire of Bruce Rock
Local Map:yes
Zoom:9
Coordinates:-31.881°N 118.148°W
Postcode:6418
Est:1913
Elevation:276
Maxtemp:25.0
Mintemp:10.5
Rainfall:329.5
Fedgov:O'Connor
Stategov:Central Wheatbelt
Dist1:243
Dir1:E
Location1:Perth
Dist2:49
Dir2:SW
Location2:Merredin

Bruce Rock is a town in the eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately 243km (151miles) east of Perth and 48km (30miles) southwest of Merredin. It is the main town in the Shire of Bruce Rock.

History

Originally known as Nunagin or Noonegin, the name of the town led to confusion between other towns such as Narrogin and Nungarin. The name was changed to Bruce Rock after the large granite feature located close to the town. The townsite was gazetted in 1913.

The rock was named after sandalwood cutter, John Rufus Bruce, who worked in the area in 1879.

The heritage listed shire office building was opened in January 1929.[1]

The painter John Perceval was born in Bruce Rock in 1923.

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 on the Merredin to Narrogin railway line.[2]

The town won the tidy town award for the wheatbelt in 2003 following a push to rejuvenate older buildings, installing landscaping and the completion of an amphitheatre. A waste transfer station was also upgraded.[3]

Economy

Economically the area depends on cropping of cereals, primarily wheat, but also barley, lupins and peas. Livestock such as sheep, goats and pigs are also raised in the area.[4] The town is a receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shire of Bruce Rock. 2011. 20 April 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110911080206/http://www.brucerock.net/default.html. 11 September 2011. dmy-all.
  2. News: Country elevators . The West Australian. Perth. 6 July 1932. 6 April 2013. 10. National Library of Australia.
  3. News: Bruce Rock wins wheatbelt Tidy Towns honour. 23 October 2008. 26 March 2013. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  4. Web site: Western Australian Destinations – Bruce rock. 2011. 20 April 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110928005207/http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Pages/Destination.aspx?n=Bruce_Rock&pid=9004554. 28 September 2011. dmy-all.
  5. Web site: CBH receival sites . 2011 . 18 April 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120318082458/https://www.cbh.com.au/media/120302/cbh%20receival%20sites%20-%20contact%20details.pdf . 18 March 2012 . dmy .