DESCRIPTION
This tiny town is located on the Great Eastern Highway 22km west of Southern Cross.
There is a general store and a hotel but not much else in the way of tourist attractions.
A nearby rock formation (also confusingly called Moorine Rock) is a popular picnic spot and an interesting
spot for a walk, especially in wildflower season.
The rock is located about 22 kilometres north west from the town and can be reach (unsurprisingly) via Morrine Rock Road.
HISTORY
Yet another beneficiary of the Northam to Southern Cross railway, Moorine Rock
started its life as a humble station on the line.
W.M. Parker found gold in a nearby range in 1888 and the station was originally called Parkers Road. The townsite was surveyed in 1924 and was
gazetted in 1925. The local member of Parliament complained that the name was causing confusion with nearby Parker Range and so in 1926
it was changed to Moorine Rock after a formation close to the town.
Assistant Engineer William Shields surveyed the area both sides of a prposed railway but found no surface water
east of Northam's Burlong Pool. Shields' report suggested using run-off from large areas of rock as carting water by train
was unecconomical.
Four large tanks/dams were then built, one each at Cunderdin, Kellerberrin, Merredin and Parker's Road (now Moorine Rock).
The railway dam still exists opposite the general store and hotel. The tanks had capacities ranging from 4 million to 7.5 million gallons
and by June 1895 all of them contained some water.
The only tank to be constructed by the Public Works Dept. was the one at Parker's Road. The other tanks were constructed by
J. McDowell, who was the contractor for the railway.
Moorine is said to be the Aboriginal word for female dingo.
The hotel was built in 1931 and has also been used as a boarding house and a nunnery.
TALL TALES AND TRUE
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OTHER INFORMATION
ATTRACTIONS
Moorine Rock.
BUILDINGS OF NOTE
Hotel.
ELECTORAL ZONES
State : Eyre
Federal : O'Connor
OTHER INFO.
Postcode : 6425
Local Government : Shire of Yilgarn
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