Cunderdin, Western Australia

Cunderdin Agricultural College is formally known as the Western Australian College of Agriculture Cunderdin- WACoA (Western Australian College of Agriculture Cunderdin, 2015).[11] According to the Department of Education the college has well-maintained facilities for practical agricultural training, the trade training centre, an academic classroom area, and a residential campus which houses 125 year 11 and 12 students.[12] The Shire of Cunderdin (2014) states The Western Australian College of Agriculture is located 158 km east of Perth and is a part of the wheatbelt region.[4] It is one of the five recognised public agricultural colleges of Western Australia, and Cunderdin was awarded WA Secondary School of the year in 2014 (Department of Education, 2015)[12] According to the Department of Education (2015) the college has been successful in winning the national award for vocational education in schools excellence.[12] The secondary school of the year report by the Department of Education (2015) found an average Australian Tertiary Admission Rank for the agricultural college of 39.6 in 2011, increasing to 62.7 in 2012.[12] The Department of Regional Development (2014) states with the funding from the Royalties for Regions and Department of Education, the college farm will expand by more than 1000 hectares to provide better education opportunities for students within the cropping and livestock sectors.[13] This will result in the college farm holding more than 3000 hectares, with the addition of the additional 1000 arable hectares (Department of Regional Development).[13] The Department of Education (2015) acknowledges that all students graduating from WACoA gain two or more Australian Quality Training Framework qualifications and complete a range of short courses in order to obtain their OH&S cards, certificates in chemical safety, bush fire fighting courses, firearm safety certificates and senior first aid qualifications.[12] Students are given the opportunity to present their work and talents throughout a range of shows such as Dowerin Field Day, Wagin Woolorama, the Perth Royal Show and other community days held by small town shires in the Wheatbelt (Department of Education, 2015).[12] These shows enable students to be a part of the shearing team, led steer team, fencing team and other trade subjects such as furnishings and engineering, where their achievements and efforts are recognised within the community through local newspapers and college newsletters (Department of Education).[12] The Department of Education (2015) suggests the agricultural college provides students with excellent facilities, resulting in many awards and commendations for the level of training provided and maintains a good status holding an annual open day with approximately 600 people each year.[12]

The Cunderdin Airstrip is situated in the middle of the College farm at the Western Australian College of Agriculture and still functions today. (Western Australian College of Agriculture Cunderdin, 2015).[11] According to the Shire of Cunderdin (2014) the airstrip was built early in the Second World War and was designed as a RAAF flying school base and as a bomber during war.[15] In the later stages of the War, the airstrip became known as the No 25 Squadron, which was used for operating Liberator bombers and kept well maintained so it could be of use in later years (RAAF Museum, 2009).[16] In 1941, the airstrip was formally known as the No 9 Elementary Flying Training School and consisted of 34 officers, 500 airmen, and 51 aircraft (Shire of Cunderdin, 2014).[5] The RAAF Museum (2009) explains how the aircraft base in Cunderdin was important for any aircraft flying from Perth to Australia’s east coast.[16] The Shire of Cunderdin (2014) claims the airstrip, among others, to play a major role in the success of the town.[5] The airstrip is now owned by the Shire and has the newly constructed aerodrome complex. (Gliding Club of Western Australia, 2015).[17] It is run, and maintained by the Gliding Club of Western Australia and includes housing for those using it over an extended period of time (Shire of Cunderdin, 2014).[15] Among that, the Automatic Weather Station (AWS) has a station set up at the airfield to gain results for the weather such as rainfall, temperature and other important figures (Shire of Cunderdin, 2014).[15]

Youndegin is a historic site along the Cunderdin- Quairading road, just 19 km south of Cunderdin town and represents the first settlement in the area (Shire of Cunderdin, 2014).[21] Following the death of E.J. Clarkson, an early settler in the Cunderdin district, the old original police output was constructed from stone and mud with a thatched roof (Shire of Cunderdin, 2014).[21] The Shire of Cunderdin (2014) suggested Constable Allerly was the original police officer in the area who took charge of the post and kept watch for any crime, however in 1880, Constable Alfred Eaton arrived into Cunderdin and took over running the station and along with his wife.[21] It was found by the Shire of Cunderdin (2014) that the popular delicacy of the time in the area was parrot pie.[5] When the railway was built Constable Eaton left the police force and became the first farmer within the Cunderdin district.[21]

Cunderdin daviesia (Daviesiacunderdin) is a small to medium-sized shrub, which grows to 1.6 m high. It appears that it is isolated to the Cunderdin area.[23]

Visitors cannot help but notice the large Ettamogah theme hotel and pub when driving through the town, due to its redness and a car on its roof. It is based on the comics of Ken Maynard and is one of a few of these pubs scattered throughout Australia. There are similar venues in Sydney, Albury-Wodonga,[24] The Sunshine Coast, Queensland and Morley.

Cunderdin also serves as a stop on the Prospector and MerredinLink rural train services.