Wheatbelt, WA
About the Wheatbelt region
This region of WA covers an area of 154,862 km² in the state's south-west. It is bordered to the north by the Mid West Gascoyne region, to the east by the Perth and Peel regions, west by the Goldfields Esperance region and south by the Great Southern and South West regions. The region is home to the major rural townships of Northam, Narrogin, Merredin and Moora, in addition to a host of smaller villages and rural communities.
The Wheatbelt region incorporates a range of different landscapes and environments. It is home to both coastal and peri-urban communities and broadacre farm land, making it a diverse area, socially and economically.
The region is the traditional land of the Ballardong, Willman, Yued, Nadji Nadji and Koreng people, subgroups of the overarching Noongar language and cultural group.
Local councils
WA's Wheatbelt region includes 42 municipalities: Beverley, Brookton, Bruce Rock, Chittering, Corrigin, Cuballing, Cunderdin, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Dowerin, Dumbleyung, Gingin, Goomalling, Kellerberrin, Kondinin, Koorda, Kulin, Lake Grace, Merredin, Moora, Mount Marshall, Mukinbudin, Narembeen, Narrogin, Northam, Nungarin, Pingelly, Quairading, Tammin, Toodyay, Trayning, Victoria Plains, Wagin, Wandering, West Arthur, Westonia, Wickepin, Williams, Wongan-Ballidu, Wyalkatchem, Yilgarn and York. It also contains two offshore localities, Edwards Island and Lancelin Island.
Climate information
The climate of the Wheatbelt region is one of hot, dry summers and mild winters. The eastern reaches of the region enjoy an average daily maximum temperature of 34 °C in summer, dropping to a maximum of 17 °C in winter. The weather grows hotter heading into the central and western parts of the region, which are more sparsely populated as a result.
Average annual rainfall in the region has been stable over the past 60 years, at 340 mm.
Population
The estimated population of the Wheatbelt region is reported as 73,437 as of 2019.
Education
The Wheatbelt is home to 69 government schools, which educate approximately 10,000 students. These include:
- 41 primary schools
- 20 district high schools
- 4 senior high schools
- 1 K-12 College, and
- 2 campuses of the WA College of Agriculture
Those hoping to undertake tertiary studies may choose to study at the Rural Clinical School of WA (a branch of UWA) in Northam, or travel to nearby Perth for a greater selection of universities. There are also several TAFE campuses located in the region for those who wish to pursue a vocational trade.
Employment and local businesses
The Wheatbelt region has a Gross Regional Product of $6.9 billion, and is home to approximately 29,594 local jobs. The region's top five industries by number of people employed are agriculture, forestry & fishing, healthcare & social assistance, education & training, retail, and public administration & safety.
The Wheatbelt is named for its significant agricultural industry, which is the mainstay of the regional economy. It is the state's key producer of cereal crops, and also provides other products, including canola, olives, vegetables, wine grapes, honey, citrus fruits and livestock. Other pertinent sectors in the region include mining, commerce, retail, manufacturing, fishing and tourism.
Housing
Median house price varies across the Wheatbelt region. They range from $200,000 in Northam to $170,000 in Narrogin and $90,000 in Merredin, all below the state median of $485,000.
The region had a median weekly house rental (for a 3-bedroom home) of $280 in Northam, $265 in Narrogin and $300 in Merredin, all below WA's $395 median.
Events
Where: Darkan, WA
When: Annually, in February
What: The Sheepfest is a true grassroots country event, celebrating the versatile sheep, which has been vital to Darkan over the course of its long history as a producer of fine meat and wool. Visitors and local residents alike are invited to present their flocks for judging, compete for glory in a host of sheep-related contests (including shearing), and eat, drink and enjoy themselves at the events markets and activity stalls.
Where: Hyden, WA
When: Annually, in September
What: This weekend festival is an intimate and unforgettable experience for those who make their way out to remote Hyden Rock, the 100-hectare rock formation where the annual event is held. In addition to outstanding performances by brilliant artists, the festival offers visitors delectable food and drinks, great films, and top-notch camping facilities. For more adventurous visitors, there is also the opportunity to explore 270 million-year-old Hyden Rock itself, swimming in its huge salt pool and wandering around its bush trails.
Where: Quindanning, WA
When: Annually, on Easter Sunday
What: The country atmosphere at this local racing club is unbeatable, making it the perfect day out for city slickers hoping to get back to nature. The community race day has been held every year since 1979, and features horse races, donkey races, a gymkhana, and plenty of novelty events and activities for the kids. Visitors are also welcome to camp at the racing grounds and make a weekend out of it, with no additional cost or booking required.
Additional Information
Wheatbelt has 44 subregions. Use the list below or the map above to learn more about individual subregions.
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![Beverley, WA]()
Beverley, WA -
![Brookton, WA]()
Brookton, WA -
![Bruce Rock, WA]()
Bruce Rock, WA -
![Chittering, WA]()
Chittering, WA -
![Corrigin, WA]()
Corrigin, WA -
![Cuballing, WA]()
Cuballing, WA -
![Cunderdin, WA]()
Cunderdin, WA -
![Dalwallinu, WA]()
Dalwallinu, WA -
![Dandaragan, WA]()
Dandaragan, WA -
![Dowerin, WA]()
Dowerin, WA -
![Dumbleyung, WA]()
Dumbleyung, WA -
![Edwards Is, WA]()
Edwards Is, WA -
![Gingin, WA]()
Gingin, WA -
![Goomalling, WA]()
Goomalling, WA -
![Kellerberrin, WA]()
Kellerberrin, WA -
![Kondinin, WA]()
Kondinin, WA -
![Koorda, WA]()
Koorda, WA -
![Kulin, WA]()
Kulin, WA -
![Lake Grace, WA]()
Lake Grace, WA -
![Lancelin Is, WA]()
Lancelin Is, WA -
![Merredin, WA]()
Merredin, WA -
![Moora, WA]()
Moora, WA -
![Mount Marshall, WA]()
Mount Marshall, WA -
![Mukinbudin, WA]()
Mukinbudin, WA -
![Narembeen, WA]()
Narembeen, WA -
![Narrogin, WA]()
Narrogin, WA -
![Northam, WA]()
Northam, WA -
![Nungarin, WA]()
Nungarin, WA -
![Pingelly, WA]()
Pingelly, WA -
![Quairading, WA]()
Quairading, WA -
![Tammin, WA]()
Tammin, WA -
![Toodyay, WA]()
Toodyay, WA -
![Trayning, WA]()
Trayning, WA -
![Victoria Plains, WA]()
Victoria Plains, WA -
![Wagin, WA]()
Wagin, WA -
![Wandering, WA]()
Wandering, WA -
![West Arthur, WA]()
West Arthur, WA -
![Westonia, WA]()
Westonia, WA -
![Wickepin, WA]()
Wickepin, WA -
![Williams, WA]()
Williams, WA -
![Wongan-Ballidu, WA]()
Wongan-Ballidu, WA -
![Wyalkatchem, WA]()
Wyalkatchem, WA -
![Yilgarn, WA]()
Yilgarn, WA -
![York, WA]()
York, WA
Wheatbelt Schools
- Government Schools
- Independent Schools
Combined
- Beverley District High School BEVERLEY WA 6304
- Brookton District High School BROOKTON WA 6306
- Bruce Rock District High School BRUCE ROCK WA 6418
- Corrigin District High School CORRIGIN WA 6375
- Cunderdin District High School CUNDERDIN WA 6407
- Dalwallinu District High School DALWALLINU WA 6609
- Dowerin District High School DOWERIN WA 6461
- Gingin District High School GINGIN WA 6503
- Jurien Bay District High School JURIEN BAY WA 6516
- Kellerberrin District High School KELLERBERRIN WA 6410
- Kulin District High School KULIN WA 6365
- Lake Grace District High School LAKE GRACE WA 6353
- Merredin College MERREDIN WA 6415
- Mukinbudin District High School MUKINBUDIN WA 6479
- Narembeen District High School NAREMBEEN WA 6369
- Quairading District High School QUAIRADING WA 6383
- Southern Cross District High School SOUTHERN CROSS WA 6426
- Toodyay District High School TOODYAY WA 6566
- Wagin District High School WAGIN WA 6315
- Wongan Hills District High School WONGAN HILLS WA 6603
- Wyalkatchem District High School WYALKATCHEM WA 6485
- York District High School YORK WA 6302
Primary
- Avonvale Primary School NORTHAM WA 6401
- Babakin Primary School BABAKIN WA 6428
- Badgingarra Primary School BADGINGARRA WA 6521
- Bakers Hill Primary School BAKERS HILL WA 6562
- Beacon Primary School BEACON WA 6472
- Bencubbin Primary School BENCUBBIN WA 6477
- Bindoon Primary School BINDOON WA 6502
- Bolgart Primary School BOLGART WA 6568
- Cadoux Primary School CADOUX WA 6466
- Calingiri Primary School CALINGIRI WA 6569
- Cervantes Primary School CERVANTES WA 6511
- Dandaragan Primary School DANDARAGAN WA 6507
- Darkan Primary School DARKAN WA 6392
- Dumbleyung Primary School DUMBLEYUNG WA 6350
- East Narrogin Primary School NARROGIN WA 6312
- Goomalling Primary School GOOMALLING WA 6460
- Hyden Primary School HYDEN WA 6359
- Kalannie Primary School KALANNIE WA 6468
- Kondinin Primary School KONDININ WA 6367
- Koorda Primary School KOORDA WA 6475
- Kukerin Primary School KUKERIN WA 6352
- Lake King Primary School LAKE KING WA 6356
- Lancelin Primary School LANCELIN WA 6044
- Meckering Primary School MECKERING WA 6405
- Miling Primary School MILING WA 6575
- Moora Primary School MOORA WA 6510
- Moorine Rock Primary School MOORINE ROCK WA 6425
- Narrogin Primary School NARROGIN WA 6312
- Newdegate Primary School NEWDEGATE WA 6355
- Northam Primary School NORTHAM WA 6401
- Nungarin Primary School NUNGARIN WA 6490
- Pingelly Primary School PINGELLY WA 6308
- Tammin Primary School TAMMIN WA 6409
- Trayning Primary School TRAYNING WA 6488
- Wandering Primary School WANDERING WA 6308
- Watheroo Primary School WATHEROO WA 6513
- West Northam Primary School NORTHAM WA 6401
- Wickepin Primary School WICKEPIN WA 6370
- Williams Primary School WILLIAMS WA 6391
- Wundowie Primary School WUNDOWIE WA 6560
- Yealering Primary School YEALERING WA 6372
- Yerecoin Primary School YERECOIN WA 6571
Secondary
- Central Midlands Senior High School MOORA WA 6510
- Narrogin Senior High School NARROGIN WA 6312
- Northam Senior High School NORTHAM WA 6401
- Western Australian College Of Agriculture - Cunderdin CUNDERDIN WA 6407
- Western Australian College Of Agriculture - Narrogin NARROGIN WA 6312
Special
- Avonvale Education Support Centre NORTHAM WA 6401
Combined
- Immaculate Heart College LOWER CHITTERING WA 6084
- Woodthorpe School - Cunderdin Campus CUNDERDIN WA 6407
- Woodthorpe School - Dalwallinu Campus DALWALLINU WA 6609
Primary
- Sacred Heart Catholic School GOOMALLING WA 6460
- St Joseph's School MOORA WA 6510
- St Joseph's School NORTHAM WA 6401
- St Joseph's School SOUTHERN CROSS WA 6426
- St Mary's School MERREDIN WA 6415
- St Matthew's School NARROGIN WA 6312
Secondary
- Edmund Rice College BINDOON WA 6502
- St Joseph's School - Secondary Campus NORTHAM WA 6401
Wheatbelt Housing
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Houses in Wheatbelt
The price of a house in Wheatbelt ranges from around $13,000 to $1,800,000.
A typical house in has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom & parking for 3 cars.
Wheatbelt Census Information
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Dwelling Type
What types of residential properties are available in Wheatbelt?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Tenure Type
Which residential properties in Wheatbelt are owned, mortgaged or rented out?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Change in Residence
Did people in Wheatbelt change address in the last year?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Working Population
What age groups are most strongly represented in Wheatbelt?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Top 5 Industries
What industries do people in Wheatbelt work in?
- Agriculture forestry and fishing
- Health care and social assistance
- Education and training
- Construction
- Retail trade
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Family Size
How many people live in a household in Wheatbelt?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP
Jobs in Wheatbelt
What's happening in Wheatbelt
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Go Regional With Move to More Early mornings watching the sunrise, quiet afternoons with the family, vast stretches of land untouched by houses – there’s so much to...
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Go Big in Wagin, Western Australia Nestled in the heart of the Wheat Belt, just 228km southeast of Perth, Wagin is home to a thriving community.
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Chittering, Perth’s Countryside Drone Pic Chittering Valley - Louis & Rover Photography Chittering has untouched bushlands and wetlands, vineyards, orchards...
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Acreage for Sale in Western Australia Median acreage prices reached a record high in Western Australia this past year, up by 28.2% to $2,569 per hectare according to Rural...
Properties in Wheatbelt
- For Sale
- For Rent