Town of Wundowie

Child Places

• 13106 Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church & Presbytery
• 16748 Seabrook Room
• 10922 Wundowie Foundry - Administration Office
• 13525 Anzac Memorial Gardens
• 25098 House, 90 Hovea Crescent, Wundowie
• 17346 Wundowie Police Station
• 14664 Wundowie Fire Station
• 25291 House, 36 Boronia Avenue, Wundowie
• 19838 House, 56 Hovea Crescent
• 11646 St Simon & St Jude Church

Values

Town of Wundowie contains Western Australia’s first, and only, State funded charcoal iron plant and refinery.

Town of Wundowie is significant as a regionally located town designed based on the principles of the Garden City Movement. Few other Garden Cities in regional Western Australia have been identified.

Town of Wundowie is representative of the State Government’s efforts in the 1940s, as a consequence of World War Two, to establish a sustainable source of Western Australian iron ore, and therefore, be less vulnerable to the threat of wartime and economic isolation.

Town of Wundowie is representative of the State and Commonwealth Government’s post-World War Two efforts to decentralisation industry away from Metropolitan centres of population.

Town of Wundowie is indicative of the impact of wartime restrictions, including the lack of materials and manpower, on the establishment of new industries in Western Australia.

Physical Description

Town of Wundowie, located approximately 70 km to the east of Perth on the route to the Eastern Goldfields and the Wheatbelt, is a State Government established townsite designed in accordance with the principals of the Garden City Movement. The townsite comprises: A central civic core containing retail and administrative services, schooling, health services, social and sporting facilities. This area in incorporated in the inner hemispherical-shaped town center and the area to the south east. Original area of housing, which radiated outwards from the hemispherical center, as well as to the west of the oval. The housing was constructed by the State Housing Commission to a standard design resulting in the streetscape appearing regular and consistent. Second stage of housing, also constructed by the State Housing Commission, located to the north of the hemispherical townscape, which is set out in a more traditional grid-style pattern. The town is surrounded by Crown Reserve to the west and north, and industrial area to the south. Although the original function of the industrial complex has changed, it retains the employment relationship with the town. The majority of buildings within the townsite were constructed, and remain, single-storey. While some residential lots have been subdivided, it is noted that the new housing is generally complementary to the original form and massing of the street. Despite expansion to the north and west, the Garden City design, original street pattern and hemispherical civic core remains evident.

History

The townsite of Wundowie was established in 1944 by the State Government as Western Australia’s first, and only, State funded charcoal iron plant and refinery. In the early to mid-1940s, during World War Two, the Western Australian Government had become concerned about the State’s vulnerability in terms of its isolated location and dependence upon imported iron and steel. To alleviate these concerns, the Government resolved to construct a blast furnace and refinery in Western Australia that would produce high quality iron ore using charcoal, thereby eliminating the need for external sources. The establishment of the plant and refinery at Wundowie fitted into the State Government’s post-World War Two policy to establish industries away from metropolitan areas. The State, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Government, promoted the decentralisation of industries across Western Australia, which aimed to provide regional areas the opportunity grow and prosper, as well as provide much needed employment for returned servicemen, new migrants and local residents.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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