Mingenew Things to Do

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In the little park at the foot of the hills there is a board with G.J. Gooch’s Memoirs. It begins “Tis good once more to climb the hill, and watch the Lockier flow, and meditate on happy days, of thirty years ago.” Gooch was an early settler who owned Wandagee Station.

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Once you have managed to get to the top, and my climb was on a stinking hot day, the view is great. If you are there during the wildflowers season, you will see yellow pom poms and even orchids flowering.

Mingenew Hill overlooks the town and surrounding areas of the Irwin Valley. Not exactly the easiest of climbs but at the same time, its not too steep. Don’t attempt it if you have disabilities and there is little assistance and its only in the initial stages.

The old Mingenew railway station was built in 1894 from local stone. The Midland Railway line first ran through the town in the same year. Some of the old station and residence was torn down in 1974 but the rest of the building is now used by the Mingenew Art & Craft group.

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In the centre of Cecil Newton Park, a small park on the mail road through the town is this hug Wheat Stalk Sculpture. The local’s nickname it ‘Big Ears’. It is significant of the local industry in wheat farming and its importance to the local economy.

The local tourist centre is run by volunteers is housed in the Post Office building. The centre is only open during the wildflower season (late winter and spring). During this time you can obtain maps and information but outside of this time, you can ask the Shire Office or Post Office.

On the main streets is this rather attractive bus shelter. It has been decorated by the local painting group with gum trees, wildflowers and windmills. The group is made up of talented local artists who exhibit their paintings each year and the Mingenew Expo.

This quirky mural is on the side of the Tennis Club. Apparently emus used to be in abundance in the area at one time. There is an amusing story in the town which tells of a band of emu’s who used to whack firmly rolled-up grass to each other with mallee sticks. They even reckon that the ghosts of these emus can be seen on the green courts.