Coorow is a town in the Mid West region of Western Australia, 264 kilometres (164 mi) north of Perth.
Coorow Western Australia | |
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![]() Main Street, Coorow, 2013. | |
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Coordinates | 29.88°S 116.02°E |
Population | 179 (SAL 2021)[1] |
Established | 1893 |
Postcode(s) | 6515 |
Elevation | 272 m (892 ft) |
Area | 258.7 km2 (99.9 sq mi) |
Location | |
LGA(s) | Shire of Coorow |
State electorate(s) | Moore |
Federal division(s) | Durack |
History
The townsite of Coorow was gazetted in 1893. Its name is derived from the Aboriginal name of a nearby spring, first recorded in 1872. The meaning of the name may be from the word "Curro", which is the Aboriginal word for a variety of Portulaca; another source gives it as "many mists".[2]
The town experienced some flooding in 1918 following a deluge of 2.53 inches (64 mm) of rain overnight. The Moore River broke its banks and caused much more severe flooding downstream at Moora.[3]
After rapid growth through the early 1920s local settlers began to seek obtaining a hotel licence for the town in 1927.[4] The licence was granted in 1929 to Alexander Gloster who put forward a tender of £1,750, and submitted his plans for approval.[5]
The hotel was erected at a cost of £13,000 and constructed of cement blocks and brick. The two storey building held fifteen rooms for accommodation on the top floor and more accommodation along with a kitchen, bar, commercial room, saloon and laundry on the ground floor. The building was sewered, with hot and cold water to all rooms, and had an electrical plant installed.[6]
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.[7]
The town was flooded in 1932 following torrential rains in the area. The town was left under water for at least a day but the water flowed rapidly away down the Moore River. It was feared at one point that the town dam would burst from the pressure.[8] Roads were cut from washaways and the streets and flooded buildings were left deep in mud with some stock losses, mostly sheep, being reported.[9]
References
External links
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