About Us
The Shire of Wongan-Ballidu
Shire of Wongan-Ballidu Administration Office
The Shire is located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia and covers an area of 3,368 square kilometres. The localities within the Shire are Ballidu, East Ballidu, West Ballidu, Burakin, Cadoux, Kondut, Lake Hinds, Lake Ninan, Mocardy and Wongan Hills. The Shire consists of undulating land with various soil types and granite outcrops.
Shire of Wongan-Ballidu covers an area of 3,368sq/km
The main town site, Wongan Hills, is approximately 184km north of Perth. The town is named for nearby range of hills that are found to the north-west of the town. Surveyor General John Septimus Roe discovered the district in 1836, seven years after the founding of the Swan River colony. The Wongan Hills name originates from the Aboriginal name 'Wongan Katta', which translates to 'Talking Hills', referring to the wind whispering through the hills. These hills are the largest single area of natural vegetation remaining in the northern Wheatbelt. The first settlers arrived in 1905. In 1909 the first store was opened, but it wasn’t until 1911 that the townsite was officially proclaimed when the railway line was opened to traffic. Two years later the first school in town commenced, and in 1916 local government was established. Wongan Hills is now a modern, progressive town with a strong community spirit.
Shire of Wongan-Ballidu Offices and Town Hall
Ballidu, directly North of Wongan Hills and 219km north east of Perth is the second largest town within the Shire. Ballidu’s name is derived from the Indigenous name given to a nearby spring. Local residents preferred the Indigenous name “Balli” however the Lands Department wanted to call the town “Duli”. A compromise was reached and Ballidu was named in 1914. The third town site of Cadoux is located 200km north east of Perth (via Dowerin). It was suggested by the local Road Board Secretary to name the locale “Cado” after a local farmer. The correct spelling of “Cadoux” was later confirmed and honours Donald Cadoux, a French-Canadian settler who arrived in WA in 1909 and later died in Gallipoli during WW1. Cadoux was founded in 1929 and is the site of the second most damaging earthquake in the history of Western Australia. The damage was estimated at $3.8 million at the time of the 1979 disaster.
Our region is most well-known for its beautiful wildflowers which bloom between October and December each year. The area is extremely diverse with more than 1400 species of flowering plants, 24 species are unique to Wongan Hills. Reynoldson’s Flora Reserve displays a stunning array of colour attracting tourists from all over Australia.
Pink Poker (Grevillea petrophiloides) – Shire of Wongan-Ballidu emblem
The Shire of Wongan-Ballidu is a well serviced area comprised of a primary school, district high school, hospital, medical centre, childcare centre, dentist, as well as a newly developed sporting complex within the townsite of Wongan hills boasting a gymnasium, excellent sporting facilities for our many proactive sporting clubs and a swimming pool. The area has lots to offer, many tracks and trails to walk, a welcoming community and incredible facilities throughout. Being only a short distance from Perth but has all the advantages country living can offer, the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu is the lifestyle to love.