Southern Cross is the centre for the Yilgarn Shire. "Yilgarn" the Aboriginal word for white stone or quartz. The area includes Bullfinch, Marvel Loch, Moorine Rock, Bodallin and Koolyanobbing, an area of 30,720 square miles.
Gold was discovered in Southern Cross in 1888 by Tom Risely and Mick Toomey. They named the locality after the stars that had been their guide. Today all the streets and the salt lake that passes through the town are named after stars or constellations. Wimmera Hill Lookout overlooks Southern Cross, surrounding farmland and goldmines. Just east of town, the old cemetary was developed as a Pioneer Memorial. Yilgarn History Museum open daily, is another insight into the absorbing history of the area.
The two major industries in the region are Mining and Rural. As well as gold with its colourful history, gypsum, salt and iron are mined.
The early settlers relied on horse and camel teams to transport goods. Chaff to feed them was expensive and so crops were grown on the 160 acre Miners Homestead blocks. Later, in the 1920s a number of blocks were opened up as a Soldier Settlement, followed by the Miner's Settlement project establishing miners suffering from "Miners' Phthisis on the land. The Depression coupled with the low rainfall proved disastrous for the farmers. Only a few managed to survive.
Today, the Yilgarn is a prosperous well established farming area comprising grain, wool, sheep, cattle and pigs with some of the largest farms in the state. The history that surrounds the district complements the beauty and adventure of the Shire of Yilgarn.
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This stunning region offers pristine beaches, charming coastal towns as well as majestic hinterlands and national parks. Read more ...
