Wyalkatchem

Wyalkatchem is at the centre of Western Australia's wheat belt, about 200 kilometres northeast of Perth. The town is thought to have been named after the Wyalkatchem Tank which was built by sandalwood cutters in 1881. Wyalkatchem is in some of Western Australia's best wildflower country. The town lies on the old Goldfields Track, the route taken by fortune seekers making their way toward Kalgoorlie Boulder. Wyalkatchem has most of the delights of a small country town. Two local museums display the region's farming and pioneering heritage. The CBH Museum is housed in the original Wheatbin, the museum houses a wonderful collection of equipment which traces the history of farming and transportation from the early 1900s to the present. Much of the machinery is still in working condition as is ﾓWaterloo Boyﾔ one of the first John Deere tractor models made in 1920. It is one of very few in Australia and takes pride of place in the museum See the Water Wise Garden which was established in 2002. The Water Wise garden is located on a corner block next to a mural depicting the town in 1928. The garden contains hardy plants of the kind the pioneers would have planted. Local children have had input into the project with mosaic tiles. Yorkakine Rock, about a half hour drive from town on the way to Tammin, is well worth a visit because of its unusual formation. Yorkie Rock is 341 metres high and covers approximately 160 hectares. In spring there is usually an interesting variety of wildflowers and orchids, and there is a good picnic spot. Wyalkatchem is a magnet for hang gliders who report reaching heights of 3500 metres in this area and flying for several hundred kilometres in any direction. Western Australia's State Hang Gliding Championships are held annually here in late January and early February.