Kulin Rock Reserve

Author

Shire of Kulin

Place Number

06970

Location

Kulin

Location Details

Other Name(s)

Coolin Rock
Kulin Rock Soak & Kulin Rock Well

Local Government

Kulin

Region

Wheatbelt

Construction Date

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Municipal Inventory Adopted 19 Mar 1997 Category 5

Statement of Significance

The site represents significant associations with explorers, pastoralists and pioneer settlers. It represents a way of life no longer practiced.

History

In Roe's 1848 expedition eastwards from York, the Aboriginal guides led Roe to the Coolin Rock Soak on 21 September 1848. With an increase in the colony's population and prosperity resulting from the Goldrushes, there was a demand for agricultural land. Surveyors travelled into the areas east of York and Narrogin, to make more detailed surveys of the land, recording soil and vegetation types during the course of surveying the land. In 1905 Surveyor M Fox noted Coolin (Kulin Rock) to be "a likely place for permanent water". Three months prior to Fox's observation, Michael Brown from Narrogin also recognised the potential of the soak, and became the first "pastoralist" in the district. Between 1905 and 1910 much of the land in Kulin was under pastoral lease, mostly by Brown. The Government allowed selection of the pastoral land before survey. Selection of the best soil areas and water supplies took place, and speculation of the land was inevitable. Agricultural settlement of the Kulin Rock area took place from 1909 onwards. Michael Healey may have been the first agricultural settler of this land. A community developed, and the Rock became a popular venue for picnics, sport and social gatherings. A bush shelter at the Rock provide a venue for church services. The Kulin Rock Well has proven a continual source of water.

Condition

Site

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
"Kulin Chronicle". Vol 1 Issue1 Kulin Chronicle 17/11/1979
WE Greble; "A Bold Yeomanry Social Change in a Wheatbelt District Kulin 1848-1970". Shire of Kulin 1979
"Kulin in the Making". Kulin Jubilee committee 1960

Place Type

Historic Site

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use PARK\RESERVE Park\Reserve
Original Use GOVERNMENTAL Reservoir or Dam

Historic Themes

General Specific
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY Settlements
OCCUPATIONS Grazing, pastoralism & dairying

Creation Date

22 May 1997

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

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.