Broomehill, Western Australia

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Broomehill
state = wa


caption =
lga = Shire of Broomehill
postcode = 6318
est = 1890
pop = 377 (2006 Census) [Census 2006 AUS|id=SSC53331|name=Broomehill (State Suburb)quick=on|accessdate=2008-09-20]
elevation= 332
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall =
stategov = Wagin
fedgov = O'Connor
dist1 = 302
dir1 = South East
location1= Perth
dist2 = 20
dir2 = South
location2= Katanning
dist3 = 22
dir3 = North
location3= Tambellupcoord|-33.845|117.634|type:city(377)_region:AU-WA_scale:50000|format=dms|display=title

Broomehill is a town located along the Great Southern Highway between Katanning and Albany, in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.

History

The town of Broomehill owes its creation to the Great Southern Railway, which was completed in 1889. The railway runs from Beverley to Albany. Broomehill is named after Sir Frederick Napier Broome (1842-96) who was then the Governor of Western Australia.

The townsite was gazetted by the Western Australian Land Company in 1890, which was recognised by the state government in 1897. [cite web|url=http://www.albanygateway.com.au/Town/Broomehill/Telling_Tales/|title=Albany Gateway - Telling Tales about Broomehill|year=2003|accessdate=2008-09-20]

A group of settlers from the now extinct town of Eticup moved to the present site of Broomehill to help establish a township after the construction of the railway was completed. These settlers included the Withams, the Walshes, and the Curnows. These three families worked hard to establish the early structures. In 1892, a Police Station and Post Office were also established.

The official spelling of Broomehill was changed from two words to one in 1959. [LandInfo WA|c|B|2008-09-27]

The Holland Track , a well known walking track, begins in Broomehill and ends in Coolgardie. [cite web|url=http://www.broomehill.wa.gov.au/tourism/holland_track.html|title=Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup - Holland Track|year=2005|accessdate=2008-09-27]

The economy of the area is dependent on wheat and sheep farming although recently farmers have diversified into viticulture and aquaculture in the form of Barramundi farming. [cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Western-Australia/Broomehill/2005/02/17/1108500208052.html|title=Sydney Morning Herald - Travel - Broomehill|year=2004|accessdate=2008-09-27] [cite web|url=http://www.broomehill.wa.gov.au/tourism/tourist_sites|title=Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup - - Tourist Sites|year=2005|accessdate=2008-09-27]

The town is located 302 km southeast of Perth on the Great Southern Highway and is 20 km south of Katanning.

References

Shire of Broomehill; http://www.broomehill.wa.gov.au/