1. Mullewa's rail precinct was home to a host of steam engines.
The "coal stage" was a key component in the operations here.
If you look carefully you might still see a dark tinge to the soil around here, the product of decades of coal dust.
2. Who would have thought that Mullewa's loco sheds could ward off the symptoms of flu?
The town's idea to use the running sheds for the purpose of steam inhalation is a true reflection of the ingenuity of rural Australia.
3. The Mullewa goods shed was a focal point for trade through the town once trains were operating both westward to Geraldton and south to Perth via the midlands; it is now one of the last standing goods sheds in Western Australia.
4. The railway station wasn't just a stop to board and depart trains; its tearooms, parcel rooms and offices made it a business and social precinct in early Mullewa as well.
5. The 'train-men's barracks' were quarters for all single men who came to work in Mullewa. Find out how they lived in the early decades of the 20th century.
6. Though the tank and its stand have seen better days, they are still a potent reminder of the vital role of water in the early railway networks.The difficulties of operating train services in the early 1900's with limited water was immense, but was somewhat alleviated by the 111 250 L capacity tank.
7. Though the tank and its stand have seen better days, they are still a potent reminder of the vital role of water in the early railway networks.
The difficulties of operating train services in the early 1900's with limited water was immense, but was somewhat alleviated by the 111 250 L capacity tank.
8. Railway cottages were simple affairs used to house railway families working on the further reaches of the of the railway network.The three room cottages were considered a luxury compared to the "Balt's Camps" that consisted of two army surplus tents and an outdoor cooking area.
9. Trains passing through Mullewa would fill their tenders with water via a flexible canvas hose from the iron tank upon the hill. Some trains carried additional tanks, especially on steep routes that required a lot of steam. Try to imagine how many thousands of gallons might have flowed out of this canvas spout from 1904 to the coming of diesel in 1955!
10. It is ironic that in a town that is prone to savage droughts much effort has also gone into various means of flood control.
The construction of "Station Dam" and then "Stockyard Dam" encouraged early engineers to attempt to divert floodwaters to good use. The drain was intended to catch runoff water from the precinct, keep water out of town and channel it into one of the two dams.
11. Keston Hospital, and its first resident doctor, Dr John Hobbs, was a big step forward for the small country town of Mullewa. Prior to this they relied on visiting doctors and short-term clinics established by nursing sisters.
12. A four room cottage was erected little more than a stones throw away from the original station building on Gray Street for the Station Master, meaning he would not have far to go to work. This proximity of Station Master's house and station was repeated at countless towns across rural Australia.
13. Built during 1948-49, the Institute was designed to serve the recreational needs of the substantial railway staffed based in Mullewa. A large hall with a stage at one end dominated the western wing, while the eastern end of the building housed a billiard room and a library and reading room.
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