Australia's Golden Outback 2024 Holiday Planner

At a Glance

Shire of WEST ARTHUR

Old Train Station, Darkan

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Lake Towerrinning, 26 January 2024 Sheepfest – Darkan, February 2024 ANZAC Dawn Service – Lake Towerrinning, 25 April 2024 ANZAC March and Service – Darkan, 25 April 2024 Birdy’s Backyard Ultra Marathon – August 2024 Towerrinning Cup and State Titles – October 2024 TOP ATTRACTIONS Lake Towerrinning / Collie-Darkan Rail Trail / Arthur River Heritage Precinct / Betty Brown Historical Centre / Astrotourism WILDFLOWERS TO DISCOVER Orchids / Boronia / Forest shrubs SHIRE OF WEST ARTHUR 31 Burrowes Street, Darkan T: (08) 9736 2400 E: shire@westarthur.wa.gov.au W: westarthur.wa.gov.au SHIRE CARAVAN PARK W: westarthur.wa.gov.au/ accommodation/visitors/darkan caravan-park.aspx

Collie Darkan Rail Trail Follow the old railway line that once connected Collie and Narrogin. The line was used to transport timber, farm produce, livestock and grain and also provided a passenger service. The line closed in 1979 and became a trail in 2005. The trailheads are at Buckingham, Darkan and Dardinine, a total of 60.5km. The trail is multi-use, and suitable for most walkers, cycling, adaptive cycling and horse riding. Find out more at westarthur.wa.gov.au or on Trails WA’s website. Betty Brown Historical Centre This award-winning museum highlights the contributions made by women to rural communities, and how they assisted in the development of their towns and districts. Located in the old West Arthur Road Board building in Darkan, it is well worth a visit. Stargazing West Arthur is part of the Astrotowns network, and there are many places in the shire that offer the chance to stargaze and take stunning astrophotos. Local tourism business One Gate Farm offers astro tours, farm gate tastings, wildflowers and historical tours. Astro sites within the shire include Lake Towerrinning, historical Six Mile Cottage and Kylie Water Tower. Flora and Fauna Wildflowers ar0e abundant within the shire, along the rail trail, and in road verges and nature reserves. The shire is a combination of forest to the west, and

DARKAN 204km south-east of Perth

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he town of Darkan was established in 1907, with the establishment of two connecting railway lines from Collie to the Great Southern Railway. Darkan, located on the Coalfields Highway, is now the shire’s main town. PLACES TO VISIT Arthur River The Arthur and Beaufort Rivers area, located on the Albany Highway, was first settled during the 1850s, with grazing leases granted as early as 1854. Arthur River developed into a thriving centre, but in 1889, when the Great Southern Railway opened, many of the existing businesses moved to the new railway towns. Arthur River still contains some lovely examples of early buildings, with some being on the State Heritage Register. Lake Towerrinning Lake Towerrinning is a large and beautiful semi-freshwater lake with clean sandy beaches. Nestled amid bush and farmland, the 256ha lake is perfect for waterskiing, kayaking, swimming, birdwatching and stargazing. The lake is close to, but not directly part of the Arthur River. The lake hosts annual events such as the WA Speed Boat Club’s State Titles and the Towerrinning Gold Cup. In 2023 it hosted dragon boat racing for the first time. Camping is available at the lake at Lakeside Camping.

plains to the east, with natural water ways and stunning vistas. Phascogales, or wambengers are found in the district, with a wooden carving of one found in the Railway Reserve area and playground in Darkan. The red-tailed phascogales are endangered and only found in certain areas of Western Australia, while emus, kangaroos and Banks Black Cockatoo can also be sighted.

Wake-boarding at Lake Towerrinning

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