Emu Barrier Fence

Author

Shire of Northampton

Place Number

24861

Enlarge Map

Show Property Street View

There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

Ajana/ Kalbarri Rd Northampton District

Location Details

Other Name(s)

No. 3 Rabbit Proof Fence
State Barrier Fence
State Vermin Fence

Local Government

Northampton

Region

Midwest

Construction Date

Constructed from 1906

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
Heritage List	Adopted	15 May 2020

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
RHP - Does not warrant assessment	Current	22 Feb 2019

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	19 Apr 1996	Category 1B	Category 1B HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT AT LOCAL AND POSSIBLY STATE LEVEL. Highest level of protection appropriate: warrants further assessment for possible entry into the State Register of Heritage Places. Provide maximum incentives under the Town Planning Scheme with encouragement to the owner to conserve the significance of the place. Prepare a floor plan and photographically record the place prior to any redevelopment.

Statement of Significance

The Rabbit Proof Fence has high historic significance for the role it played in the development of
pastoral and farming properties in the district; social significance as being representative of the impact
the rabbit plagues and emus had on the lives of farmers and as a remnant of the lonely and often
eccentric lives of the men who patrolled the fence; and scientific significance as an attempt to control the
biological plague of an introduced animal into the Australian environment.
Examples of prominent and accessible sections of the Rabbit Proof Fence should be given a high level
of protection under the Municipal Inventory. Other sections that are reasonably intact should be given '
retain and conserve' protection, together with mapping and recording of the full extent of the fence if it
does not already exist. Interpretive signage explaining the history and purpose of the fence should be
installed at appropriate locations.

Physical Description

The woven rabbit wire mesh fence is supported now on a combination of timber posts and 'star' pickets. The wire
mesh is taken down and buried into the ground to prevent rabbits from digging under it. The fence has been
modified over the years to also act as an emu proof fence but is now generally in poor condition.

History

The rabbit proof fence was constructed as a barrier to hinder the growing rabbit plague in the north & east from
entering the southern coastal and agricultural districts. The No. 3 Rabbit Proof fence stretched 275km from just
north of Yalgoo where it joined the No. 2 Fence to the sea between the mouth of the Murchison River and Port
Gregory. Construction of the fence started on 16 November 1906 and was completed by 30 December 1907.
However, this attempt to prevent the spread of rabbits failed and the fence was later used, with some initial
success, to try and check the movement of emus, which had become a serious menace to the wheat farmers in the
1920s and 30s. Like the rabbits, the emu invasion worsened so that the government was forced to offer subsidies
and bonuses per head of emu. Over the years, the fence was regularly upgraded and patrolled. At present the
rabbit proof fence acts as lot boundaries in many instances.

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	Porter,B., "Pure Galena, A story of settlement in the Australian outback.". pp. 53, 56	Publicit	2001
	Crowley, F. K; "Australia's Western Third".	Heineman, Melbourne	1960
BL Acc Q994.12	Suckling, A. J; "History of the Northampton District".	Teachers' Higher Certificate,

Place Type

Other Built Type

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Present Use	GOVERNMENTAL	Other
Original Use	GOVERNMENTAL	Other

Historic Themes

General	Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Government & politics

Creation Date

08 Jul 2002

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

30 Apr 2021

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.