Brookton
With Route 120 – The Pioneer Way passing through the historic town of Brookton, the town is a four-way junction North and South, and East and West. You can leave Route 120 – The Pioneer Way here and return to Perth via the picturesque Brookton Highway. Or you can head east to Corrigin and on to the unique “Wave Rock” at Hyden.
HISTORY
The first settler and founder of the district, John Seabrook (1818–1891), moved to the area in 1846 soon after marrying, and named his property “Brookton House”. He remained the only European in the area, aside from itinerant sandalwood cutters, until his stepson, A.W. Robinson, took up adjacent land in 1864. During the 1860s and 1870s, more settlers moved into the area, and took on sandalwood cutting (it sold for £9 per ton) as well as wheat and sheep farming.
In June 1889, when the Great Southern Railway opened, the town had one of the original stations. The station proved to be the catalyst that created a centre for the isolated farms, and the government gazetted a townsite here in 1895 and named it “Seabrook” but local acceptance of the station name and confusion with another Seabrook near York resulted in the townsite’s name being changed to Brookton in 1899. The townsite attracted a few businesses and by 1903, the tiny settlement comprised a school, hotel, bank and a few shops.
The Old Police Station Museum located in the town is the base of the local historical society and contains artefacts and memorabilia of the early settlement days.
A bulk wheat bin was opened in December 1940 and began receiving large amounts of grain immediately. In 1941 the wheat harvest of the surrounding area was about 90,000 bushels all delivered to the local bulk wheat bin. This was about 5,000 bushels down from the previous year.
Old Police Station Museum
TODAY
The town is a key agricultural centre for a rich mixed farming district. In the 2001 census, it reported a population of 576. It contains a TAFE centre, and in addition, a district high school (opened 1960, replacing a primary school), Bendigo Bank, shopping facilities, accommodation (hotel, motel, caravan park), council offices and a telecentre are located within the town. Bi-annually, it hosts the Old Time Motor Show.
SHIRE HERITAGE INVENTORY
For a pdf of the Inventory CLICK HERE
MAP REFERENCE
GPS 32 22 S 117 00 E
PLACES TO STAY
Club Hotel
24 William Street
Tel: 08 9642 1055
Mobile:
Email: brooktonclubhotel@bigpond.com
Web: Click Here
Bedford Arms Hotel
99 Robinson Road
Tel: 08 9642 1172
Mobile:
Email: office@bedfordarmshotel.com.au
Email: reservations@bedfordarmshotel.com.au
Web: Click Here
Gidanga House B&B
47 Corberding Road
Tel: 08 9642 1117
Mobile:
Email:
Web:
Caravan Park
Brookton Highway
Tel: 08 9642 1434
Mobile: 0474 497 618
Email:
Web:
PLACES TO EAT
Brookton Deli
105 Robinson Road
Tel: 08 9642 1154
Mobile:
Email:
Web:
Brookton Road House
Great Southern Highway
Tel: 08 9642 1056
Mobile:
Email:
Web:
Stumpy’s Gateway Roadhouse
1 Corberding Road
Tel: 08 9642 1017
Mobile:
Email:
Web:
Brookton Club Hotel
24 William Street
Tel: 08 9642 1055
Mobile:
Email: brooktonclubhotel@bigpond.com
Web: Click Here
Bedford Arms Hotel
99 Robinson Road
Tel: 08 9642 1172
Mobile:
Email: office@bedfordarmshotel.com.au
Web: Click Here
PLACES TO FILL UP:
Brookton Road House
Great Southern Highway
Tel: 08 9642 1056
Mobile:
Email:
Web:
Stumpy’s Gateway Roadhouse
1 Corberding Road
Tel: 08 9642 1017
Mobile:
Email:
Web:
PLACES TO SEE:
Wandoo Woodland
Boyagin Rock walk.
St Mark’s Anglican Church
Robinson Street
Yenyenning Lakes
Crawford’s Stock and Station Agency Building
William Street
Tamleroy Historic Exhibition