Spencers Brook, Western Australia

Spencers Brook is a district in Western Australia located between the towns of Northam and York, about convert|95|km|mi|0 east of the state capital, Perth.

It was an important junction point on the Eastern Railway. It was opened in 1886 as a stage of the Chidlow to Northam railway. [ 1 May 1886, p. 9 "The proposed Eastern Railway line to Northam"; 9 Oct 1886, p. 12: "About the Northam railway"; 9 Oct. 1886, p. 14: "Programme of sports, and celebrations for the opening"; 16 Oct 1886, p. 18: "Official opening of the branch line Spencer's Brook to Northam"; 23 Oct 1886, p. 8 : "Opening of the Northam Railway". "The Western Mail" ] It was operating as a stopping place from 1888 at 50 miles 44 chains from Perth. [ Higham, G. J. (2006) "Where WAS that?: an historical gazetteer of Western Australia" Winthrop, W.A.: Geoproject Solutions Pty Ltd. ISBN 0975802402 ]

Spencers Brook was the location of railway tearooms and a watering tank tower as it was a significant stop in the pre-1966 era of steam locomotives. It was just west of the junction where the Eastern railway continued to Northam, and the Great Southern Railway continued to Albany. [ Railway Map of WA 1938, ARHS, Bassendean, W.A. ]

Spencers Brook is home to the historical Spencers Brook Tavern established in 1884 and to the Muresk Institute, Curtin University's school of agribusiness, applied biosciences and environmental biology.

The current closest commercial centre is Northam.

References

External links

* [http://muresk.curtin.edu.au/ Muresk Institute]