Three Springs, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Three SpringsWestern Australia |
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Three Springs railway station and grain silo, 2013.
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 Three Springs
Location in Western Australia
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| Population | 381 (2016 census) | ||||||||
| Established | 1906 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6519 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 257 m (843 ft) | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | Three Springs | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Moore | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Durack | ||||||||
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Three Springs is a town located 313 kilometres (194 mi) north of Perth, Western Australia on the Midlands Road, which until the opening of the Brand Highway in 1975 was the main road route from Perth to the state's north. The town is the seat of the Shire of Three Springs. Its economy is based on agriculture (mainly broad acre grain cropping and sheep farming) and mining.
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History
The first Europeans to pass through the Three Springs area were Lieutenant George Grey and his party in 1839. The next exploration of the area in 1846 was undertaken by brothers Henry, Francis and Augustus Gregory. This was a government sponsored trip to seek out new ‘runs’ for stock.
During 1867, while surveyor Charles Cooke Hunt was undertaking a road survey, he recorded the words ‘Three Springs’ at the site of the current town after some nearby springs. The name began to appear on official maps from then on and land in this region was soon taken up for pastoral leasing.
When the Midland railway from Midland Junction to Walkaway was opened in 1895, Three Springs was a siding on the line, and the area really opened up.
In 1907 the government decided to declare a townsite adjacent to the Three Springs Station, and it was gazetted as Kadathinni in 1908. It was also intended to change the name of the station when the townsite was named, but this was overlooked, and it remained Three Springs. The townsite was also locally known as Three Springs, and in 1946 the name was officially changed to Three Springs to conform with local usage.
In 1932 the Wheat Pool of Western Australia announced that the town would have two grain elevators, each fitted with an engine, installed at the railway siding.
Geography
Banksia trifontinalis (Three Springs Dryandra) is named after this town, in the vicinity of which it was first collected.
Economy
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Three Springs' economy is built on mining and agriculture, including broad acre grain cropping and sheep farming, as well as cattle, pigs and wildflower intensive farming.
Imerys S.A. a French industrial minerals company, operates the world's second largest talc mine just outside the Three Springs townsite. Up until 2004, the talc was railed to Geraldton for export. As a result of contamination from iron ore at the port rail unload facility, since 2004 it has been transported by road.
Notable residents
- James “Jimmy” Gardiner (1861-1928) - served as local member in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, colonial treasurer, inaugural state leader of the Country Party, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, chairman of the Western Australian Cricket Council, president of the Western Australian Cricket Association, founding Vice President of the Kadathinni Cricket Club, Inaugural Patron of the Three Springs Race Club, Inaugural Vice President of the Three Springs Rifle Club.
- Patrick Lynch (1867-1944) - State Minister for Works, federal Minister for Works and Railways, President of the Senate, farmer.
