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Carnarvon is a town and
a shire about 900 km north of Perth, situated near the mouth of the Gascoyne
River. It is named after the Earl of Carnarvon, Secretary of State for Colonies,
1866-1874.
The Carnarvon area was first explored by George Grey in 1839, the Gascoyne
attracting his attention as a possible opening to an inland sea. Grey reported
favourably on the country for grazing and agricultural purposes. In 1858
Francis Gregory explored the hinterland, giving a cautious report on its
potential. Settlement was left until 1876, and in about 1880 a hotel was
built on the site of Carnarvon. In 1883 the town site was surveyed, and
connected by telegraph to Perth the following year, strengthening Carnarvon's
port function by giving it timely information on market conditions.
In 1887 the Jubilee Hall was erected as a memorial to Queen Victoria's Jubilee
celebrations, housing the library and municipal chambers until 1973 and
1965 respectively.
The town's white population was 226 when Carnarvon was made a municipality
in May, 1891.
Carnarvon was described in 1904 in The Australian Handbook as -
... a municipality at the mouth of the Gascoyne river, on the north-west
coast, 489 nautical miles from Fremantle. It promises to become an important
settlement, and is the shipping port of the various sheep stations established
in the district. It was proclaimed a municipality on May 19, 1891. Steam
and sailing vessels call regularly, and good fresh water is obtainable.
There are two good jetties. It contains three hotels, a post and telegraph
office, money-order office and savings bank, branch of Union Bank, school,
residency, Anglican church, library, custom house, courts house, gaol, hospital
and four stores. Water service to all houses. Chiefly pastoral district.
Population, about 318. |
The district's grazing capacity was acknowledged with the construction
of a meatworks in 1920. The sinking of bores had yielded prolific water
flows since the early 1900s, and the growing of bananas and tropical produce
was started in the early 1920s. Many farmers were European immigrants. (Much
of the Gascoyne River percolates through the sand and settles on a hard
sandstone bed.) The establishment of banana and vegetable growing in the
1930s halted Carnarvon's population decline.
In 1921 an air service between Geraldton and Carnarvon was established.
In 1935 the Gascoyne River bridge was opened, spanning the sand beds which
experience seasonal floods. In 1915, after flooding had threatened to wash
away the township, a protective bank made of bundles of sticks was built.,
The bundles were like those on the Italian fascist badge, used for strengthening
military trenches, and the area is today known as the Fascine.
The immediate post war period saw a rapid increase in agricultural output
- vegetables for Perth and farms settled by ex-servicemen. In 1949 The Australian
Blue Book described Carnarvon as -
... served by a weekly shipping service and a bi-weekly 'plane service.
The 'plane links with Perth, via Geraldton, returning on alternate days.
As a port, Carnarvon exports large quantities of wool, sheepskins, kangaroo
skins and livestock yearly, and is the main shipping point for the large
Gascoyne district. In an average year over 29,000 bales of wool and 93,000
sheep are handled from this port. This is in addition to large numbers of
stock, which are overlanded to southern markets.
A new industry which has been established is tropical fruit growing, particularly
bananas, which are grown, mainly, on the banks of the Gascoyne River. It
is estimated that the capital value of properties engaged in this production
is some £50,000, employing between 150 and 200 persons on 60 properties.
The winter climate of Carnarvon is delightful, and as the town has some
splendid hotel accommodation available, it attracts a considerable flow
of visitors. It is reticulated with water and electric light, while the
majority of buildings are modern.
The Municipality of Carnarvon is the only town of note in this section of
the country, and, in addition to its port activities, is the business centre
for practically the whole of the vast area covered by the Gascoyne-Minilya,
Shark Bay and Upper Gascoyne Road Boards.
The offices of the Gascoyne-Minilya Road Board are located in Carnarvon. |
A whaling station operated on Babbage Island, near Carnarvon, from 1950
- 1962. It was later replaced with a prawning factory. The island was the
site of the port jetty, one mile long, built in 1904. It was served by a
tramway to bring passengers and goods to Carnarvon. State shipping transport
improved, and the jetty was closed to the public in 1994.
During the 1960s Carnarvon became the site for the American National Aeronautical
and Space Administration and for international radio and communications
operated by Radio Australia had the Overseas Telecommunications Commission.
The tracking station is on a sacred Aboriginal site. A salt and potash mine
was established in 1969, employing up to 300 workers.
Carnarvon experiences severe cyclones. The Jubilee Hall lost its roof in
1960, a year coinciding with bad floods. The banana plantations have been
damaged several times. Nevertheless, Carnarvon grows 80% of the bananas
and 15% of the vegetables produced in Western Australia. The paving of the
highway to Perth in the 1960s cut travel time by 75%, helping the marketing
of perishables.
In 1990 a new civic centre and art gallery were built on the site of the
former railway goods shed. The Shire of Carnarvon occupies 53,000 sq. km.,
including 300 km. of coast line. Coastal attractions include fishing, blowholes
73 km. north of Carnarvon and a memorial to HMAS Sydney, the scene of Australia's
greatest wartime loss of life. The wreck of the German raider, Kormoran,
which sunk the Sydney lies on the shoreline. Further north is the Coral
Bay town and resort on the Ningaloo Reef.
Carnarvon's municipal census populations have been 727 (1911), 2,239 (1954)
and 9,046 (1991).
Further Reading:
Larman, Jessie, Carnarvon, "Artlook", c.1983.
Memory, R.Scott, "A Town Grows: Carnarvon", Western Australia,
1967.
Visitor's Guide, "Carnarvon", Carnarvon Tourist Bureau, c.1995.
Wilson, H.H., "Cyclone Coasts: Australia's North-West Frontiers",
Rigby Publishers Ltd., 1980.
External Links:
See also
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