Boddington

Local History of Boddington, Western Australia

Boddington is a town located in the Peel region of Western Australia. It is situated 123 kilometres south-east of Perth and 16 kilometres north of the town of Williams. Originally, the area was inhabited by the Noongar Aboriginal people.

In 1861, the area was explored by Surveyor John Forrest and his team. They found a fresh spring of water, which they named Hotham Water. This discovery led to the settlement of the area. In 1912, the townsite of Boddington was gazetted, and it was named after Henry Boddington, a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council.

The early economy of the town was based on timber milling, farming, and gold mining. In the late 1800s, gold was discovered in the area, and the town experienced a gold rush. There were several gold mines in the area, including the Hotham, Crossroads, and Easter. The Hotham Mine, which operated from 1899 to 1913, was the largest mine in the area.

Timber milling was also an important industry in the early days of the town. Many of the early buildings in the town, including the hotel, school, and police station were built using local timber. In the 1920s, jarrah timber was exported from the town to Perth and other parts of Western Australia.

Today, the economy of the town is based on the mining and agriculture industries. The Worsley Alumina Refinery, which processes bauxite into alumina, is the largest employer in the town. The town also has several farms that produce crops such as wheat, canola, and barley.

The town has several historical sites that are worth visiting. These include the Boddington Old School, which was built in 1901 and is now a museum, and the Crossroads Hotel, which was built in 1904 and is one of the oldest hotels in Western Australia.

In conclusion, Boddington has a rich history that dates back to the 1800s. The town was built on the back of timber milling, farming, and gold mining industries. Today, the town is a thriving community with a strong mining and agriculture industry. The town's historical sites are a testament to its rich heritage.