From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Salmon Gums, Western Australia
Salmon Gums, Western Australia
Salmon Gums Location: • 780 km (485 mi) ESE of Perth
Western Australia • 103 km (64 mi) N of Esperance
• 95 km (59 mi) S of Norseman
LGA:
LGA: Shire of Esperance
State Eyre
electorate:
electorate:
Federal O’Connor
Division:
Division:
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
23.3 °C 9.0 °C 349.4 mm
74 °F 48 °F 13.8 in
Salmon Gums is a small town in Western Australia locat-
ed 106 km north of Esperance on the Coolgardie-Esper-
ance Highway. The name is derived from a prominent
Salmon Gums railway siding in 1928 stretch of Eucalyptus salmonophloia (Salmon Gum) trees
which formed a landmark in the town’s early days.[2] The
town is part of the Shire of Esperance.[3] At the 2006 cen-
sus, Salmon Gums had a population of 789.[1]
History
The first potential use of a townsite was as a watering
spot for the proposed Esperance to Norseman Railway[2],
since Salmon Gums is roughly halfway between these two
towns. Land for a town-site was set aside in 1912 and the
name was recommended in 1916. The town was gazetted
in 1925, when the Esperance to Salmon Gums section of
the railway was completed.[4]
Settlement of the area received a boost after the First
World War when returning soldiers were given grants of
land[5] in this and many other areas around the state.
These grantees became known as soldier settlers. At the
time Salmon Gums was regarded as being on the fringe
of arable land. The low soil fertility and marginal average
rainfall of 341mm meant that yields were poor prior to
the 1950s. As a result, the land was not in high demand, so
the opportunity cost to the government was quite small.
Agricultural research was boosted prior to the Se-
cond World War by the establishment of the Salmon
Gums Research Station[5]. In 1949 a similar station, the
Salmon Gums Esperance Downs Research Station was established near
Esperance. Research at the latter quickly led to the dis-
Population: 789(2006 Census)[1] covery that soil in the Esperance region was deficient in
Established: 1925
trace elements, reportedly phosphorus, copper and zinc,
Postcode:
Postcode: 6445
and the addition of these greatly improved fertility and
Coordinates:
Coordinates: 32°58′48″S 121°38′42″E / 32.980°S 121.645°E /
crop yields[6]. Since then the region, including Salmon
-32.980; 121.645Coordinates: 32°58′48″S
121°38′42″E / 32.980°S 121.645°E / -32.980; Gums, has become a successful producer of wheat, sheep
121.645 and cattle.
Elevation:
Elevation: 249 m (817 ft)
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Salmon Gums, Western Australia
Mining "Shire of Esperance". Shire of Esperance.
[3]
http://www.esperance.wa.gov.au. Retrieved
In 2001 a Perth-based iron ore company announced an 2006-07-15.
investigation into a large lignite deposit at Salmon Gums [4] Western Australian Government Gazette, file 5335/12, 4
for use reducing its phosphorus-rich iron ore currently February 1925, p.157.
being mined at Koolyanobbing. As of 2009 all plans for [5] ^ "REGISTER OF HERITAGE PLACES - ASSESSMENT
the mining of the lignite has been suspended indefinitely DOCUMENTATION" (PDF). Heritage Council of
due to the stock market collapse in early 2009. The sud- Western Australia. pp. 19. Archived from the
den drop in oil prices would make the refinement of the original on 2006-08-21. http://web.archive.org/
oil suspended in the lignite financially unviable. [7] web/20060821050424/
http://www.heritage.wa.gov.au/register/
References PDF_Files/A+-+A-D/Avondale+Rsch+Stn(P-AD).PDF.
Retrieved 2006-07-14.
[1] ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). [6] "Esperance". Australian Heritage Magazine.
"Salmon Gums (State Suburb)". 2006 Census http://www.heritageaustralia.com.au/
QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ search.php?state=WA®ion=138&view=1053.
ABSNavigation/prenav/ Retrieved 2006-07-15.
LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC55481&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401.
[7] "Summary Announcement. Portman. Processing
Retrieved 24 July 2011. Options for High-Phosphorous (sic) Iron Ore".
[2] ^ Western Australian Land Information Authority. Corporate File. 2001-12-10.
"History of country town names". http://www.corporatefile.com.au/
http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/ default.asp?Mode=Report&ReportID=2313.
web/History+of+country+town+names. Retrieved 8 Retrieved 2006-12-05.
February 2007.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salmon_Gums,_Western_Australia&oldid=447580899"
Categories:
• Towns in Western Australia
• Goldfields-Esperance
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