In 1830, Ensign Dale led an exploration party from York which reached into the Shire of Kellerberrin. Through the years 1861 - 68 a number of grazing leases were taken up in the area. In 1864 an explorer, C.C. Hunt, named a granite outcrop "Killaberrin" after the Aboriginal word for a large ant colony "Keela", found in the vicinity of the hill. In 1877 four sheep stations in the district - Cuttening, Milligan, Mooranoppin and Mt Caroline - were established. The names of the first settlers were the Massinghams, Rippers, Leakes and Sewells.

Local Industries

The local economy is based on wheat and sheep, being in the centre of the wheatbelt region, along with manufacturing of wheat bins, augers, grain silos and trailers. Camper Trailers are also manufactured by local businesses.

Flora and Fauna

The countryside is slightly undulating with stands of timber and scrub. Varieties of timber include Salmon Gum, York Gum and Gimlet, also rare stands of Banksia and Gungunru. Scrub areas are predominately heathland, which provides brilliant displays of colour during spring. The fauna in the area predominantly consists of kangaroos, wallabies, echidna, numerous varieties of lizards and snakes, colourful flocks of parrots, cockatoos, magpies, mallee fowls and the Bronze Winged Pigeons.

Wildflowers

Like most areas of W.A., the Kellerberrin district abounds with wildflowers during spring and Durakoppin Reserve 27 km north of Kellerberrin and Gardner Flora Reserve 35 kms southwest of Kellerberrin are both worth a visit in September and October. A number of large nature reserves and corridors are helping to preserve wildlife in its original state.