Wagin Travel Guide

 keeweechic Says:  The main street is lined with a newspaper office, general store and blacksmith’s, a one room school, features a bank, a one-room school, a stone kiosk and some settler’s cottages. There is also a bush shearing shed and a shepherds camp. You can tour yourself or take a group... 

 keeweechic Says:  The Historical Village has gone to a lot of trouble to depict a settlement as it was 100 years ago. The buildings have original equipment, furnishings and memorabilia from the area. The are always expanding and hope to become a town in their own right. They are open from... 

 keeweechic Says:  The historical village was started by a group of enthusiasts in 1978 in the grounds of the Wagin showgrounds. They initially collected old farm machinery and implements and went on to collect wagons, sulkies and finally buildings from around the area. Today the village is... 

 keeweechic Says:  Outside the bank is the only hitching post of the town which was placed here in 1902. At water trough would have been beside it for the horses. All other posts within the town were removed during the 1950’s. 

 keeweechic Says:  The landmark hotel was built in 1905 by Paddy Durack who had a large estate east of Wagin. He allowed those travelling into the area to camp outside the hotel and use the facilities until they found jobs or established their lands. 

 keeweechic Says:  St George’s was the first church to be built in Wagin in 1902. Prior to this, all services had been conducted in local homes. The land was donated by Frederick Piesse and the raw materials were gathered from surrounding farms. Oil lamps lit the church until1907 when the... 

 keeweechic Says:  The old Courthouse now houses the offices of the Agricultural Protection Board and T.A.F.E. It was built in 1912. Originally it was planned as a two-storey building which included a jury room, map and survey room and prisoner’s room. 

 keeweechic Says:  The Wagin railway stop was originally named Wagin Lake and it was part of the Great Southern Railway line which was completed and opened in 1889. The Duke and Duchess of York paid a visit to the town in 1889 and made a point of greeting all the school children and teachers.... 

 keeweechic Says:  The first services were conducted in the area in 1893 but it wasn’t until the foundation stone was laid in 1907 and the church built, that the residents finally had a proper church to hold their services. A Sunday school was built adjoining the church in 1925. 

 keeweechic Says:  The old Westpac Building is now the Telecentre which offers computer use with internet and email, photocopying and faxing, laminating and secretarial assistance. 

 keeweechic Says:  The Town Hall was built in 1896 as an agricultural hall. From 1909 to 1980 it was the seat of regional government and housed the Municipal Council and the Wagin Roads Board. Later on these two office combined to become the Wagin Shire Council. The building described as... 

 keeweechic Says:  Built in 1912, the hall was used for church meetings and entertainment. Many local events were held here such as school and community concerts, some featuring the Wagin town band and also celebrations at the end of World War I. St Georges Hall is part of the Heritage Trail... 

 keeweechic Says:  The Wagin Hotel was the first, during the 1880’s, to be built in the town. It was rebuilt during the years from 1900-1904 and purchased by the Moran family in 1921. 

 keeweechic Says:  Built in 1913 on the original site of the towns first Post Office. The original built in 1890 is now part of the Historical Village Museum along with early telephone equipment. 

 keeweechic Says:  The Wagin Library is housed in the old Wagin Road Board Office which was built in 1912. I loved the cute mural on their side wall. 

 keeweechic Says:  Between 1987 and 1998 the hotel sat empty and therefore deteriorated. It reopened in 2000 as a function centre, coffee shop, art gallery and offering accommodation. It was also the Royal Flying Doctor Service Wagin Visitor Centre. 

 keeweechic Says:  The Federal Hotel takes up an entire block in the town. It was built in 1896 and at the time was one of three hotels built around this time. For three years prior to the hotel obtaining its liquor license, the building was used as the town’s schoolroom.