Preston Beach, Western Australia
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| Preston Beach Western Australia |
|
| Population: | 137 (2001 Census)[1] |
| Established: | 1959 |
| Postcode: | 6215 |
| Location: | |
| LGA: | Shire of Waroona |
| State District: | Collie-Wellington |
| Federal Division: | Forrest |
Preston Beach is a small town located in the Peel region of Western Australia just off the Old Coast Road, between Mandurah and Bunbury in the Yalgorup National Park.
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[edit] History
Explorers Dr Alexander Collie and Lieutenant William Preston RN first came across what are now Lakes Preston and Clifton while exploring the coastline between Mandurah and Bunbury in 1829. After the introduction of convicts to the Swan River Colony in the 1850s, the "Old Coast Road" south of Mandurah was rebuilt. For most of its length, the road went through well-timbered, sandy limestone country of little value to agriculture.
The "Preston Beach Estate" was privately developed in 1959, and together with the "Lakeside Estate", was incorporated as the locality Yalgorup by the request of the local government - the name meaning "place of waters or lakes" in the Noongar Aboriginal language. The townsite was gazetted in 1975. However in 1989, the name was changed to Preston Beach on request from the Shire of Waroona, as this was the local name for the town.[2]
[edit] Present day
Preston Beach contains basic accommodation and facilities. A couple of roadhouses for passing trucks and motorists are located on Old Coast Road 4km from the town.
Further to the State Government's announcement that the Peel Deviation (a continuation of the Kwinana Freeway) will terminate in the area, Waroona Shire Council is presently (2006) developing a strategy for development of areas to the north and south of the present townsite, which have been identified for urban expansion since the 1990s and secured by land developers. The strategy is expected to be completed in late 2007.[3]
The Yalgorup National Park was established in the 1970s to protect the coastal lakes, swamps and tuart woodland in the area. The area is also central to waterbird migration patterns. At the edge of Lake Clifton, rock-like structures called thrombolites can be seen, built by tiny microorganisms believed to resemble the earliest forms of life on Earth. Scientists have suggested their presence here may be due to upwellings of fresh groundwater high in calcium carbonate. An observation walkway has been constructed to allow visitors to view these fragile structures.[4]
[edit] Transport
The main road route through the area is the Old Coast Road (Highway 1; Mandurah to Bunbury), 4km away, where Perth-Bunbury buses are operated by Transwa under the Public Transport Authority.
[edit] References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (19 November 2002). Community Profile Series : 5061407 (Census Collection District). 2001 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved on 2007-06-30. Map
- ^ Western Australian Land Information Authority. History of country town names - P. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
- ^ Shire of Waroona (20 April 2006). Media Release - Planning for Preston Beach Commences. Retrieved on 2006-10-10.
- ^ Dept of Conservation and Environment. Yalgorup National Park. Retrieved on 2006-10-10.
[edit] External links
- Preston Beach, Western Australia is at coordinates Coordinates:
| Towns in the Shire of Harvey | |
|---|---|
|
Australind | Benger | Binningup | Brunswick Jn. | Cookernup | Harvey | Kemerton | Leschenault | Myalup | Roelands | Wokalup | Yarloop |
|
| Towns in the Shire of Waroona | |
|
Hamel | Lake Clifton | Nanga Brook | Preston Beach | Wagerup | Waroona |
