The Kellerberrin Heritage Trail is located 203km east of Perth along Great Eastern Highway (National Highway 94), a drive of approximately 2½ hours and retraces the history of Kellerberrin, its links with the Goldfields and the early dominance of its pastoral industry.

The trail has two sections:

• A half hour walk through the townsite, highlighting historical buildings.
• A 4km drive to the Kellerberrin Hill, Golden Pipeline Lookout which provides scenic views across the townsite and rolling farmlands.

Please note:

Persons using this Heritage Trail do so at their own risk.

Click here to view a map of the heritage trail

Early Exploration

European exploration of the Kellerberrin area began in 1830 when Ensign Robert Dale and party were dispatched from York at the Surveyor General's request to report on outlying areas to the east. The countryside through which they rode had chains of salt lakes, patches of grassland and whitegum forest through which "box poison grew in great profusion".

Sandalwood cutters or 'pullers' followed in the next three decades, felling the fragrant timber to be later collected and shipped from Fremantle to the lucrative Asian market, where it was used for incense and oils.

Extensive surveys east of York were carried out by Assistant Surveyor Charles Hunt between 1864 and 1866, reporting on countryside as far east as Lake Lefroy. In 1866 he constructed a series of wells and dams along this route which later became known as the York to Goldfields Road. He is credited with the name of 'Kellerberrin', having named a large granite outcrop 'Killaberrin' after the Aboriginal word 'killa' for a large ant colony found nearby.

Development of the District

The 1880s saw a number of changes in the Kellerberrin district. There were new agricultural techniques which improved productivity, such as the use of guano fertiliser and fencing wire. The most dramatic alteration to the quiet pastoral community occurred as a result of the discovery of gold at Southern Cross in 1887. Kellerberrin became a focal point on the York to Goldfields Road for the ever increasing stream of dusty, eager eyed prospectors who, often pushing wheelbarrows containing all they possessed knocked at station homestead doors in search of equipment, supplies and locally grown produce.

However, development of the township was threatened in 1882 when Surveyor Tibbets proposed that the railway extension from York should run 11 miles to the east. Vigorous protest by settlers ensured that the lines route passed close to Kellerberrin Hill and in 1893 the first trains steamed into Kellerberrin.

From the mid 1890s settlers were encouraged into the district by State legislation which was designed to facilitate the development of wheat farming across the States inland plateau. In the early years settlers built close to granite outcrops where reliable wells could be bored, but development of the Coolgardie Goldfields water supply scheme in the early 1900s eliminated dependence on the often brackish groundwater.

The greater independence achieved when Kellerberrins administrative status changed from Road Board to Shire Council meant that more town planning decisions could be made locally instead of having to wait for State Parliament's approval. It ensured that situations could be avoided like the one in 1897 when an application for a block of land on which to build an agricultural hall was debated in State Parliament and the Member for Yilgarn, C.J. Moran opposed the request. The Member is on record as stating that his own electorate had a greater need than a place "with only one man, his dog and a dead kangaroo". Fortunately for Kellerberrin, approval was granted and the hall, built of local granite, was completed in the same year.

The first ten years of the twentieth century saw a surge of development; a hotel, post office, flour mill, three churches and a number of businesses were constructed, securing Kellerberrins' status as an important agricultural centre and stopover between Perth and the Goldfields.