Morawa

Morawa is a wheatbelt town located approximately four and a half hours drive north of Perth. The surrounding area supports sheep and wheat farming. The first European occupation of the Morawa district was by pastoralists, shepherds, sandal wood cutters and miners in the latter part of the 19th century. Throughout the district there is ample evidence of sites and artefacts of ancient Aboriginal occupation. Morawa was declared a townsite in 1912 with the railway line to the town being established in the following year. The town is located approximately 370 kilometres north of Perth and 170 kilometres south east of Geraldton. The economy of the district is firmly based on cereal and legume crops and wool. However for a short time during the late 1960s and early 1970s, iron ore was mined at Koolanooka Hills. The region is renowned for a diversity of flora that is seldom equalled, with this being attributed to the diversity of landform and soil types that are present within the district. During the months of August to October there is an abundance of beautiful wildflowers throughout the region. Attractions within the town include the Church of the Holy Cross, The Old Presbytery and Morawa Museum. The town also has a pub and a small shopping centre. The Old Gaol and Courthouse now forms the centrepiece of the Morawa Museum. The Museum houses a truly remarkable collection of windmills as well as examples of vintage farm machinery and equipment. The windmill collection is renowned world wide and is the subject of The Windmill Journal a publication produced quarterly by the Morawa District Historical Society and distributed world wide. Morawa has a hotel/motel, a caravan park and two farm stays.