| Katanning | |
Location: | 295km southeast of Perth |
Shire: | Katanning |
Population: | 4139 |
Postcode: | 6317 |
Katanning is a thriving agricultural township situated in the heart of the Great Southern Region. It is the largest country stockselling centre in the State, attracting buyers from around Australia to the annual stud sheep sales. As well as sheep, the countryside around Katanning is known for its high quality grain. Within the town the Metro Meatworks is a major source of employment.
The district around Katanning was first explored by John Roe in 1835 and settled in 1860. The construction of the Albany to York railway opened up the region to more settlers in the late 1880s and the township was declared in 1889. A second influx of settlers arrived after 1945 with soldier settlement schemes in the district and the opening of government offices in town.
Katanning's oldest building is the Roller Flour Mill, built in 1891 by Frederick Henry Piesse, an early entrepreneur and the town's leading citizen. Henry and his brothers were instrumental in establishing the town by investing in many ventures including a winery, electrical and water supplies, an aerated water firm and many agricultural interests.
The flour mill, a threestorey building in the heart of town, is listed by the National Trust. It has been restored and now houses the Katanning Tourist Bureau which offers daily tours of its historic premises. The tourist bureau also has details of the Piesse Heritage Trail which takes in sites of significance in and around Katanning, including the statue of Frederick Henry Piesse in Austral Terrace.
The Piesse family home, 'Kobeelya', was built in 1902, amongst pine and eucalyptus trees on land overlooking the town. The home, with its chapel featuring beautiful stained glass windows and old coach house, is now a conference centre run by Katanning Baptist Church.
Other points of interest in Katanning include the historical museum housed in Katanning's first government school. Its collection of photos, newspapers and memorabilia can be seen on Sundays between 2.00pm and 4.00pm. The ruins of another Piesse venture, a winery on Warren Road, can be visited. The building contains old tanks and vats and a collection of farm implements.
Also in Warren Road is a mosque built as a place of worship for Katanning's large Muslim community, the majority of whom are Christmas and Cocos Islanders who settled in Katanning in 1974.
Approximately 80 kilometres south of Katanning is Stirling Range National Park which is noted for its rugged terrain and fabulous wildflowers.