Wellstead, Western Australia

Wellstead is a small rural town situated in Western Australia in the Great Southern region between Albany and Esperance.

Wellstead
Western Australia
Wellstead general store
Wellstead
Coordinates34°30′00″S 118°36′00″E
Population296 (2006 census)[1]
Established1965
Postcode(s)6328
Elevation126 m (413 ft)
Location
  • 476 km (296 mi) south east of Perth
  • 100 km (62 mi) north east of Albany
  • 80 km (50 mi) south of Jerramungup
LGA(s)City of Albany
State electorate(s)Electoral district of Albany
Federal Division(s)O'Connor

The name commemorates the Wellstead family who settled in the area in 1860 and had held grazing land between Cape Riche and Bremer Bay. Farmland was opened up in the area in the 1960s for cereal cropping and land was set aside for a town site. The town site was gazetted in 1965 shortly after establishing a telephone exchange.[2]

John Wellstead still lived in the area in 1881 and sold 700 head of cattle via the market in Albany early the same year.[3] He died in Albany in 1896[4] but his sons, including John Jr., continued the family pastoral interests in the area.

The surrounding areas produce wheat and other cereal crops. The town is a receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling.[5]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Wellstead (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  2. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names – W". Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  3. "Classified Advertising". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 15 February 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  4. "Mrs. J. Wellstead Sen". Western Mail. Perth: National Library of Australia. 10 August 1907. p. 15. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  5. "CBH receival sites" (PDF). 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2013.


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