Bulgin Rock Reserve

Location: Turn off Great Eastern Highway 12kms west of Cunderdin along Collins Road.

Bulgin Rock is the perfect place to absorb the rolling landscape and it’s easy to see why it’s been a popular picnic spot for more than 100 years. Early settlers chose to farm the land around the granite outcrop and the Rock itself became a famous landmark in the area. Historically there are many stories of fabulous picnics, often with huge numbers of people attending. Today it’s just as pleasant a spot to unfurl the picnic rug and open the hamper. Sitting amongst the she oak woodland you’ll probably glimpse a variety of birds and, at the right time of year, beautiful displays of wildflowers.

To get there - turn off the Great Eastern Highway 12kms west of Cunderdin along Collins Road.

Collingully Cottages Patchwork Barn

Location: 11km from Meckering on Burges North Road.

Collingullly Cottage Patchwork barn is located on a wheat and sheep farm in Meckering and is a unique and innovative example of agricultural diversification. Take a drive and see the fantastic range of fabrics, kits and quilts on display in the barn, while enjoying the pleasant surrounds of the farm. The barn is available for weekend retreats for avid quilters. For more information contact Nahrae Cook: 0428 251 404

Cunderdin Hill Lookout

Location: 1km south of Main Street.

It appears quite inconspicuous, but it’s definitely worth taking the time to venture to the top of Cunderdin Hill – situated 1km south of the main street. You’ll be greeted by 360-degree panoramic views of the town and surrounding farmland – a view that gives a real sense of the open spaces and big sky. From this height it’s easy to see the devastation caused by salinity – a belt of salt is visible winding through the riverbed on the north side of the lookout. The Hill is a popular walking track for locals who, after negotiating the deceptively steep rise, certainly appreciate a moment to catch their breath and take in the scenery.

The name ‘Cunderdin’ is derived from a local aboriginal language and translates to ‘the place of many flowers’ – an apt description especially during the springtime. The Hill becomes covered with carpets of pink and yellow everlastings and is a particularly good spot for bird watching. You’ll often glimpse a kangaroo lazily bounding through the bushland.

On your descent you’ll see the local Goldfields Pipeline Reservoir – a 54.5 million litre water reservoir used in conjunction with the Goldfields Water Scheme.

Cunderdin Museum

Location: Forrest Street, Cunderdin.
Open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm weekend.
Contact: (08) 9635 1291.

Arguably the central attraction in the Shire, you shouldn’t leave without visiting the Cunderdin Museum. Even if museum’s aren’t usually on your ‘to do’ list, make an exception – you won’t be disappointed. It’s a fantastic tribute to the largely volunteer workforce that has toiled for the last few decades to bring the Museum to its current form. Today the result is arguably one of the best rural Museums in the state if not the country. With the ongoing support of the National Trust and a recent State Government grant the Museum has undergone an upgrade with a new, and very impressive interpretive center housed in the old pump house.

Apart from being the home to the afore mentioned former No 3 Steam Pumping Station - now full of information, memorabilia and photographs of its fascinating history – the Museum also boasts what has been described as one of the best displays of farm equipment anywhere in the country.

The Museum also does a brilliant job of bringing to life the history not only of the Cunderdin-Meckering area but of the Wheatbelt as a whole, with its diverse range of memorabilia, photographs, story boards and household items.

Ettamogah Pub

Location: Main Street, Cunderdin.
Contact (08) 9635 1777.

There’s one landmark you certainly won’t miss when you visit Cunderdin – the brightly coloured and rather distinctive Ettamogah Pub. Based on the well known comics of Ken Maynard – made famous by the Australian Post magazine - the pub is not only a novelty for tourists but an important central hub for residents in the Shire. Drop in for a drink or enjoy a great meal in the restaurant that’s open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Meckering Earthquake Gazebo & Memorial Rose Garden

Location: Gabbedy Place, Meckering.

Experience the devastation of the 1968 Meckering Earthquake firsthand at this impressive display which includes a section of the damaged railway line, a mangled piece of the Golden Pipeline, photographs, statistics and information.

Take a stroll across the road to the beautiful memorial rose garden - a tribute to the dedication and hard work of many local volunteers.

Meckering Earthquake Farm Ruins

Location: 2km north of Meckering, turn off Meckering to Goomalling Road.

The Meckering Earthquake registered 6.9 on the Richter scale, crushing many of the town’s buildings and residential properties. ‘Salisbury’ – an old stone homestead built in 1904 – was flattened during the quake and the ruins give an eerie insight into the scale of the devastation experienced by the town.

Meckering Earthquake Preserved Faultine

Location: 12km south of Meckering on the York-Meckering Road.

While only lasting 40 seconds, the Meckering Earthquake had a lifetime impact on this small wheatbelt town. Leaving a scar 32kms long and up to 2m high, the earthquake literally tore open the earth on October 14th, 1968. Today you can still see 1km of the faultline that’s been preserved for viewing.

Youndegin

Location: 19km south of Cunderdin.

Immerse yourself in our past by taking a trip to Youndegin – 19km south of Cunderdin along the Cunderdin-Quairading Road (and then left on the Goldfields Road) – where you’ll find the original police outpost. Built from stone and mud with a thatched roof, the outpost’s answer to the modern day ‘lock-up’ was a nearby York Gum. Constable Allerly was the first police officer in charge of the post and the building represented the first settlement in the area.

It was the death of an early settler, E.J. Clarkson at the hands of Aborigines that originally led to the establishment of the police outpost. In 1880 Constable Alfred Eaton arrived to take over its running and he and his eventual wife, Mary later made the building their home. By all accounts Constable Eaton was quite the entrepreneur and during the goldrush of 1888 he saw an opportunity to make the most of the passing trade by building the Youndegin Arms. The story told is that his popular local delicacy was parrot pie.

Although once very busy, things changed with the building of the railway, which bypassed Youndegin to the north. This put to rest any ideas that it would become the major centre for the area and by 1894 the pub had closed down. Mr Eaton left the police force and changed careers becoming the first farmer in the Cunderdin District.