Australia So Much to See
Henry Stanley ("Harry") Radcliffe bequeathed his home to the Nungarin Shire, with a request that the land be developed into a playground
for children. The old house was subsequently removed, and the area grassed and fitted with play equipment. The reserve has been re-named
"Radcliffe Park" and is a popular venue for community functions, as well as an informal playground for children.
There is a modern
public toilet block alongside.
Nungarin is a very neat small town, with a parallel street to access businesses along the main street (Railway Avenue). Pergolas, and old machinery is displayed in the strip between the roads and parking areas. Large vehicle parking bay on opposite
side of main road, with dump point, which does not appear to be signed.
W.S. Waterhouse & Sons Hardware Shop, constructed 1952. Waterhouse's first shop in Nungarin was opened in May 1928,
but prior to the completion of the premises in Railway Avenue, the business operated for a short period from the home of W.S.Waterhouse
Lot 501 First Avenue. Construction of the current shop began on 6th August 1951, by building around the original structure and was
completed by Easter 1952. This building now houses a Men’s Shed.
Nungarin
Accommodation
Nungarin Caravan Park at the sporting complex, one and a half kilometres south west of the town on Danberrin Road. Low
cost shire run roomy park.
McCorry’s Old Hotel B&B, one kilometre north of the town, also offers serviced caravan and camping
sites. Restored historic hotel. Book on line
Mangowine Homestead camping, limited facilities. Sixteen kilometres
north of Nungarin. Historic Homestead and Inn.
Large Rocks. Eagle Rock, Talgomine Reserve and Danberrin Hill campgrounds
have pit toilets.
The Woolshed Hotel – currently for sale and closed. While the hotel is not open, McCorry’s Old Hotel
is the only other option for those not equipped for camping.
References
McCorry's Hotel
At the end of the nineteenth century, the McCorry family were established in Northam where Alma Constantine
(“Con") McCorry, his sister Margaret Ann ("Molly"), and brother-in-law Joseph O'Hara were joint owners of the Shamrock Hotel.
In
1900, McCorry took over William Leeder's grazing lease of 300,000 acres in the Nungarin and Dandanning area and in 1910, he purchased
3,000 acres of farming land bordering Noongarin (Nungarin) Rock. Con and Elizabeth were amongst the earliest settlers in the Nungarin
district and established a homestead with sheds and stables alongside the Rock.
At the time, the Northam-Goomalling-Merredin
railway line was being constructed, and McCorry was optimistic that the line would pass through his property. He began construction
on a blacksmith's shop, a store and a stone hotel of twenty rooms.
Unfortunately the line was diverted and by-passed the McCorry
property to the south. The hotel was completed, and officially opened on New Year's Day, 1913. It functioned in its remote location
until 1929 when the Kalgoorlie Brewery and Ice Company built the present two storey hotel in Railway Avenue.
In the mid-seventies,
a local committee was formed to restore the building. The owners at the time (the Roberts family) agreed to transfer the building
to the Shire, in return for a suitable shed to house the hay that was stored there. The first phase of the restoration was undertaken
by a local committee in conjunction with Westrek program for unemployed youth, and the Hotel was re-opened on 14th April, 1978.
In
1979/80, the Nungarin Shire obtained a grant under the National Estate Program, and further restoration work was accomplished (National
Trust Architect - Warwick Broomfield).
The Shire established a caravan park alongside the Hotel, and in 1997, a lease was granted
to the Bellamy family (Rural Concepts) who have undertaken extensive restoration and development, and made the building available
for meals and overnight accommodation.
This premises is now the Nungarin CWA rooms. Nungarin was the first branch of the Country Women’s Association to be formed in Western
Australia, commencing in 1924. See more of the history of the CWA here.
In October 1910, 1,486 acres (approximately 600 hectares) were set aside as a townsite reserve along the Dowerin to Merredin railway.
The townsite itself was gazetted in 1912.
