Newdegate, Western Australia

Town in Western Australia

33°05′35″S 119°01′26″E / 33.093°S 119.024°E / -33.093; 119.024Population159 (SAL 2021)^[1]Established1925Postcode(s)6355Elevation308 m (1,010 ft)Location

399 km (248 mi) southeast of Perth
52 km (32 mi) east of Lake Grace
92 km (57 mi) north of Jerramungup

LGA(s)Shire of Lake Grace State electorate(s)Roe Federal division(s)O'Connor

Newdegate is a townsite in the Wheatbelt agricultural region, 399 km south-east of Perth and 52 km east of Lake Grace in Western Australia. The townsite was gazetted in 1925 and honours Sir Francis Newdegate, the Governor of Western Australia from 1920 to 1924. The Department of Agriculture and Food operates one of its 13 research stations in the area of Newdegate.

Newdegate is situated in the heart of the south-eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia – about halfway between Perth in the west and Esperance in the south-east. It is a very successful grain and sheep farming area. Newdegate is central to the Western Mallee subregion of the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia. It is a sparsely populated subregion with an area of about 47,000 square kilometres (18,147 sq mi).

The Wagin to Newdegate railway line was completed in 1926, thereby connecting the town to the Western Australian rail network.^[2]

The local hall was opened in 1926 by Mr. B Carruthers from Lake Grace. A gold reef was found to the north east of town the same year.^[3]

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.^[4]

The surrounding areas produce wheat and other cereal crops. The town is a primary site receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling.^[5]

Field days

The annual Newdegate machinery field days have been held for more than 45 years.^[when?] Displays include machinery and farm equipment as well as sheep and shearing competitions, fleece competitions, a ewe/hogget competition, cattle displays, wine tasting, art competition and exhibition, live music and entertainment. In 2007 a natural fibre fashion award was held.^[6]

References

^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Newdegate (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
^ Opening dates for sections from 12. Construction of the W.A. Government Railways network, 1879 - 1931, pages 208-210 Gunzburg, Adrian; Austin, Jeff; Rail Heritage WA; Gunzburg, Adrian (2008), Rails through the bush : timber and firewood tramways and railway contractors of Western Australia (2nd ed.), Rail Heritage WA, ISBN 978-0-9803922-2-7
^ "Summary". Western Mail. Perth. 29 April 1926. p. 19. Retrieved 5 October 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Country elevators". The West Australian. Perth. 6 July 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 6 April 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "CBH receival sites" (PDF). 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
^ "Newdegate Field Day website". 2010. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.