Chidlow, Western Australia

For the settlement and civil parish in Cheshire, United Kingdom, see Chidlow, Cheshire.

Chidlow Perth, Western Australia
Lake Leschenaultia
Chidlow
Population:	1688 (2006 census)[1]
Postcode:	6556
LGA:	Shire of Mundaring
State District:	Darling Range
Federal Division:	Pearce
Suburbs around Chidlow: Gidgegannup Wooroloo Mount Helena Chidlow Beechina Sawyers Valley Sawyers Valley Gorrie

Coordinates: 31°51′25″S 116°16′19″E / 31.857°S 116.272°E / -31.857; 116.272

Chidlow is a small community in the Shire of Mundaring approximately 45 kilometres east of Perth, Western Australia.

History

The Chidlow townsite was originally named Chidlow's Well after a small waterhole near the old Northam road. The watering place had been known to travellers for many years and was named after a pioneer family of Northam. Settlement began in 1883 when it became known that Chidlow's Well was to be the terminus of the second section of the Eastern Railway. The railway station and townsite were changed from Chidlow's well to Chidlow in 1920.

The railway station and yard were of significance in the operation of the Eastern Railway from the 1880s to the 1960s. Lake Leschenaultia was originally constructed to provide water for the steam trains. Various proposals have been put forward to rebuild the railway to Midland especially due to the restricted nature of public transport to the Chidlow area. Nowadays, the Railway Reserve Heritage Trail retraces the 70 kilometres of the old Eastern Railway which was constructed from Fremantle to York in the 1880s.

Attractions

Since the closure of the railway the Chidlow community has adjusted from being an important transport location to more of a rural retreat location. The Railway Reserve Heritage Trail has become one of the major recreational facilities in the Shire of Mundaring, and is suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding.

Lake Leschenaultia is popular with both locals and visitors and provides safe swimming, canoe hire, walking trails and camping. Chidlow is also the location of the Somerville Ecovillage.

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Chidlow (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC53496&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2008-10-05. 

• Elliot, Ian (1983). Mundaring - A History of the Shire (2nd ed. ed.). Mundaring: Mundaring Shire. ISBN 0-9592776-0-9. 
• Spillman, Ken (2003). Life was meant to be here: community and local government in the Shire of Mundaring. Mundaring: Mundaring Shire. ISBN 0-9592776-3-3. 
• Watson, Lindsay (1995). The railway history of Midland Junction : commemorating the centenary of Midland Junction, 1895-1995. Swan View, W.A. ISBN 0-646-24461-2 (pbk.). 

External links

• Chidlow on Geoscience Australia
• Mundaring and Hills Historical Society Website