York is the oldest inland town in

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

, situated on the Avon River, east of

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

in the Wheatbelt, on Ballardong

Nyoongar The Noongar (, also spelt Noongah, Nyungar , Nyoongar, Nyoongah, Nyungah, Nyugah, and Yunga ) are Aboriginal Australian peoples who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia, from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the so ...

land,King, A and Parker, E: York, Western Australia's first inland town, Parker Print, 2003 p.3. and is the seat of the

Shire of York The Shire of York is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, covering an area of just beyond the eastern fringe of Perth's metropolitan area. The Shire's seat of government is the town of York. History The Shir ...

. The name of the region was suggested by JS Clarkson during an expedition in October 1830 because of its similarity to his own county in England,

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a Historic counties of England, historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other Eng ...

.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. After thousands of years of occupation by Ballardong Nyoongar people, the area was first settled by Europeans in 1831, two years after Perth was settled in 1829. A town was established in 1835 with the release of town allotments and the first buildings were erected in 1836. The region was important throughout the 19th century for sheep and grain farming, sandalwood, cattle, goats, pigs and horse breeding. York boomed during the gold rush as it was one of the last rail stops before the walk to the goldfields.York WA Heritage Walk Trails, York Visitor Centre, Shire of York (undated) p.29. Today, the town attracts tourists for its beauty, history, buildings, festivals and art.

Ballardong Nyoongar

The Ballardong people, a sub-group of the

, occupied the land before European settlement.

Post-settlement history

With the increasing population of the Swan River Settlement in 1830, it became evident that suitable land would have to be discovered for the growing of crops needed to provide necessary food.

Ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

Robert Dale Lieutenant Robert Dale (1810–20 July 1853) was the first European explorer to cross the Darling Range in Western Australia. Robert Dale was born in Winchester, England in November 1810, son of Major Thurston Dale and Helen Matthews. Throug ...

, a 20-year-old officer of the 63rd Regiment, led a small party in the first exploratory journey over the

Darling Range The Darling Scarp, also referred to as the Darling Range or Darling Ranges, is a low escarpment running north–south to the east of the Swan Coastal Plain and Perth, Western Australia. The escarpment extends generally north of Bindoon, to t ...

, during the winter months of 1830 into what was later to be known as the Avon Valley. He returned with a report of "park-like lands with scattered trees", and after a second expedition, Lieutenant-Governor Stirling concluded that there appeared to be 1,000 square miles of "the finest imaginable sheep-land". As a result, Stirling decided that the new district should be thrown open for selection and this was done by Government Notice on 11 November 1830. By December 1830, 250,000 acres had been allotted, and in January 1831, 80,000 acres. Before the end of 1831 a further 6,030 acres in small lots had been taken up. In September 1831 Dale escorted the first party of settlers to the district, reaching the Avon valley on 16 September. They immediately set about the construction of huts, the preparation required for their stock and the cultivation of new land. Dale proposed an area two miles south of the summit of Mt Bakewell as the site for a future town to serve the district. In September 1833 a garrison of eight troops of the 21st North British Fusiliers was stationed at York. Rules and regulations for the assignment of town allotments at York were gazetted in September 1834 and allotments were advertised for sale from July 1835. A township did not begin to appear until 1836. In July 1836 York comprised two houses, a barn, an army barracks and some out-houses, with about 50 acres of cleared land. The town grew slowly at first due to difficulties with the local aboriginals, as well as problems associated with using English farming techniques in an unfamiliar climate. In 1831,

Revett Henry Bland Rivett (or Revett) Henry Bland (2 February 1811 – 18 February 1894) was an early settler and a government administrator in colonial Australia. Bland was the son of Thomas Bland and Emma Revett,Daniele, L, Australian Dictionary of Biography an ...

settled in York, and with his business partner,

Arthur Trimmer Arthur Trimmer (1805–1877) was one of three brothers who were early settlers in the colony of Western Australia. He was the grandson of Sarah Trimmer (1741–1810), an educational reformer and writer. Arthur’s father was William Kirby Trimme ...

, leased a 10-acre site north of the town (on which they had built the first house, by the end of September 1831) and took a grant over a 4,000 acre block to the south which they established as a farm, later called Balladong Farm, after the Ballardong Noongar, the Aboriginal occupiers of the area. Later, part of the land to the south came to be called Bland's Town or Bland Town. Bland was resident magistrate from 1834 to 1842. In 1836,

John Henry Monger Snr John Henry Monger Snr (1802–1867) arrived in Western Australia as an assisted migrant in 1829. After a short period running a mill at what became Lake Monger, he established a hotel and store in York and went on to become one of the richest men ...

arrived and bought the 10 acres of land immediately north of the town site from Bland and Trimmer for £100 on which the first house in York had been constructedPamela Statham Drew and AM (Tony) Clack: York, Western Australia, A Documentary History, p.14. of

wattle and daub Wattle and daub is a composite building method used for making walls and buildings, in which a woven lattice of wooden strips called wattle is daubed with a sticky material usually made of some combination of wet soil, clay, sand, animal dung a ...

. Monger opened a hotel by early 1837, constructing in 1842 a "long, low building" opposite the hotel for a store, and "every three months his wagons would journey to Guildford or Perth for supplies". In July 1836 Lieutenant

Henry William St Pierre Bunbury Colonel Henry William St Pierre Bunbury CB (2 September 1812 – 18 September 1875) was a British Army officer who served for periods in Australia, South Africa, and India. Early life Bunbury was the son of Lt.-Gen. Sir Henry Bunbury, 7th Baro ...

of the 21st Regiment was sent to York to respond to rising levels of violence between colonial settlers and Ballardong Noongar people. His mission was "to make war upon the native". After many individual skirmishes and killings of Ballardong people, rumours of an attack on the natives, in which "several ... were wounded, and one woman was killed", were reported. In response to this, Ballardong people speared a shepherd called Knott. Bunbury initially tried to cover up Knott's death to avoid further conflict. In July 1837 Bunbury was again sent to the York district after the spearing deaths of two young settlers called Chidlow and Jones. In the ensuing violence soldiers and settlers killed at least 18 Ballardong Noongar people. In 1840, the York Agricultural Society was established, which became very influential in the following years, holding annual shows to the present day. The York Racing Club was established in 1843. Both societies continue today. A shortage of labour was a problem for the farming community, particularly at harvest time. A sandalwood boom in the late 1840s lifted the town. At the request of the influential York Agricultural Society, from 1851,

convict A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison". Convicts are often also known as "prisoners" or "inmates" or by the slang term "con", while a common label for former convict ...

s were transported to the Colony and relieved the labour shortages. As "

ticket-of-leave A ticket of leave was a document of parole issued to convicts who had shown they could now be trusted with some freedoms. Originally the ticket was issued in Britain and later adapted by the United States, Canada, and Ireland. Jurisdictions ...

" men, they constructed many of the early buildings. Solomon Cook constructed a flourmill in 1851 and then steam engine in 1852 to power his mill. York was connected by rail in 1885. Following the discovery of gold in the Yilgarn in 1887, the town was teeming with miners, all alighting from the train and preparing to make the long journey across the plains to the goldfields. In the 1880s the question as to whether or not the railway line to the Goldfields should be run through York or Northam was the subject of bitter debate. "Tradition is that State Parliamentarians became so tired of hearing the rival Notham/York arguments that they suggested that representatives of the two towns decide the issue by a game of cards."King, A and Parker, E: York, Western Australia's first inland town, Parker Print, 2003 p.3. In December 1891, the State Government decided that the line should run through Northam because the distance to Yilgarn was 15 miles shorter and £500 cheaper. The 1968 Meckering earthquake damaged a number of buildings and resulted in removal of the Royal Hotel. Between 1968 and 1971, due to the general downturn in rural activities, and a progressive reduction in railway operations in favour of Northam, many York businesses closed and the population reduced to some extent. York from Mount Brown lookout - panoramio

York from Mount Brown lookout - panoramio

Attractions

York is located in the valley between Mt Bakewell and Mt Brown, known to the Ballardong Noongar as Walwalling and Wongborel. On the road to York in Spring are canola fields which draw many tourists. In addition to its heritage and Arts and Crafts buildings and other architecture (refer below), the town features the York Motor Museum, the

Courthouse A courthouse or court house is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English-spe ...

complex, galleries,

bric-à-brac Bric-à-brac () or bric-a-brac (from French), first used in the Victorian era, around 1840, refers to lesser objets d'art forming collections of curios. The French phrase is now obsolete, dating from the 16th century, then meaning "at random, a ...

and book shops, skydiving and paragliding, and walks along the picturesque Avon River and up Mt Brown. The main attractions in the town include: * Avon Terrace, the main street, lined with heritage buildings *The York Motor Museum, holding 60 vintage cars and 16 motor cycles and other vehicles as well as motor memorabilia *The

York Town Hall York Town Hall is a heritage listed town hall in York, Western Australia, located in Avon Terrace. At the time of its construction, it was claimed to be the largest public hall in Western Australia, with an interior floor space measuring . Con ...

*The Courthouse complex, which is now a commercial gallery, and the 1852 cells *The giant straw (

wara art Wara art is the Japanese art of making large sculptures from rice straw. Wara art in Japan Traditionally, rice straw was used for making tatami mats and other objects. At the beginning of the 21st century, these objects were increasingly replace ...

) sculptures of endangered animals *The Residency Museum *The

Suspension Bridge A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck (bridge), deck is hung below suspension wire rope, cables on vertical suspenders. The first modern examples of this type of bridge were built in the early 1800s. Simple suspension bridg ...

(also called the Swing Bridge) *

Faversham House Faversham House is a heritage-listed "grand residence" overlooking Avon Terrace in York, Western Australia. The house, named after the birthplace of John Henry Monger Snr,A.M. Clack and Jenni McColl: York Sketchbook, p. 48. was built in four ...

*Blandstown, a very rare hamlet with many mid to late 19th century homes, unspoilt by development *Historic churches, particularly St Patrick's Church, Holy Trinity Church, and the

Uniting Church The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) was founded on 22 June 1977, when most congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, about two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and almost all the churches of the Congregational Unio ...

, and their adjoining church halls. Shops of interest to visitors include: *Gallery 152, a curated gallery *Botanicalia, gallery shop and café, in the former Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium *Barclay Books *The York Flour Mill café and shops *The Sock Factory *Penny Farthing Sweets *Jules cafe The main attractions outside the town include: *York Olive Oil *White Gum Farm *Australia's oldest racecourse In addition to the historic

, the York Post Office apartment, Hope Farm, and the Old York School and Farm House, there are many other charming places to stay. The town has four historic hotels: Settlers House, the York Palace Hotel, the

Imperial Hotel Imperial Hotel or Hotel Imperial may refer to: Hotels Australia * Imperial Hotel, Ravenswood, Queensland * Imperial Hotel, York, Western Australia Austria * Hotel Imperial, Vienna India * The Imperial, New Delhi Ireland * Imperial Hotel, D ...

and the Castle Hotel. Lavendale Farm offers farm stays. The town is popular with walkers, cyclists, and photographers.

, Laurelville, the

, the York Racecourse, and the Olive Branch provide a venue for weddings and small conferences or other corporate events, as does Lavendale Farm. York offers a splendid wildflower garden behind

, as well as Avon Park, next to the town on the river, and Peace Park. The York Agricultural Show and The York Festival are normally held in September and October each year.

Heritage buildings

With its hamlet Bland's Town, York has buildings from each decade from the early settlers (1830s and 1840s), the

period (1850s and 1860s), the coming of rail (1885), the Gold Rush (1887 to 1900), and the Federation boom, culminating in the

(1911).

, overlooking the north end of Avon Terrace, is one of the grandest surviving Colonial homes in the State. More than 200 buildings or sites in York are heritage listed, most within the town itself. Many of York's older homes and buildings have now been restored and, while some have retained their original use (e.g. the

York Post Office York Post Office, on Avon Terrace in York, Western Australia, is the oldest surviving two storey post and telegraph building in Western Australia, and forms part of the heritage-listed town centre complex with the Court House and Police Statio ...

), others have been adaptively re-used with success, such as the former York Primary School (1886). File:Co-Op, Post Office, Courthouse.jpg, Co-op,

File:Faversham.jpg,

File:Old York Fire Station.JPG,

Fire Station __NOTOC__ A fire station (also called a fire house, fire hall, firemen's hall, or engine house) is a structure or other area for storing firefighting apparatuses such as fire engines and related vehicles, personal protective equipment, fire h ...

File:Sargent's Pharmacy.jpg, Sargent's Pharmacy File:Davies Building.jpg, Davies Buildings File:York Palace Hotel.jpg, York Palace Hotel File:Masonic Hall, York.jpg,

Masonic Hall A Masonic Temple or Masonic Hall is, within Freemasonry, the room or edifice where a Masonic Lodge meets. Masonic Temple may also refer to an abstract spiritual goal and the conceptual ritualistic space of a meeting. Development and history In ...

File:Eliza's cottage.jpg, Eliza's Cottage File:Marwick's_Shed.jpg, Marwick's Shed File:York_Motor_Museum.jpg, York Motor Museum

Arts and Crafts buildings and other fine architecture

The Principal Architect, George Temple-Poole, was a follower of Arts and Crafts Style which came out of the Arts and Crafts Movement inspired by

William Morris William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was a British textile designer, poet, artist, novelist, architectural conservationist, printer, translator and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement. He ...

and

John Ruskin John Ruskin (8 February 1819 20 January 1900) was an English writer, philosopher, art critic and polymath of the Victorian era. He wrote on subjects as varied as geology, architecture, myth, ornithology, literature, education, botany and politi ...

. The railway station building (built in 1885), is one of the earliest

Federation Arts and Crafts Federation architecture is the architectural style in Australia that was prevalent from around 1890 to 1915. The name refers to the Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901, when the Australian colonies collectively became the Commonwealth of Au ...

buildings in Australia and could be a

Cotswold The Cotswolds (, ) is a region in central-southwest England, along a range of rolling hills that rise from the meadows of the upper Thames to an escarpment above the Severn Valley and Evesham Vale. The area is defined by the bedrock of Juras ...

cottage from

Bibury Bibury is a village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is on the River Coln, a Thames tributary that rises in the same (Cotswold) District. The village centre is northeast of Cirencester. Arlington Row is a nationally notable arc ...

in Gloucestershire, that William Morris considered the ideal in house design. The Old York Hospital has similarity to William Morris's own home, Red House and is one of the most admired Arts and Crafts buildings in the State. The former York Primary School (1886) also repeats a motif from Red House (the flèche). Federation Free Style buildings (the commercial equivalent of Arts and Crafts style) include the

(1893), the

and police station (c. 1896). All are designed by Temple-Poole and are on the State Heritage Register. The centre of the town has fine examples of a dozen other Victorian and Federation architectural styles, virtually uninterrupted by modern buildings. The Victorian Georgian style buildings include the old sections of Settlers House and the Castle Hotel. The Convent School House (1872) is a Victorian Tudor building, the same style as many of Perth's early buildings and also probably designed by

Richard Roach Jewell Richard Roach Jewell (1810 in Barnstaple, Devon, England – 1891 in Perth, Western Australia) was an architect who designed many of the important public buildings in Perth during the latter half of the nineteenth century. He was employed to sup ...

. York churches include the Victorian Romanesque style Anglican Holy Trinity Church (completed in 1854), designed by

; St Patrick's original church (1859–60); St Patrick's Church (designed in the

Gothic Revival Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

style by the former

architect Joseph Nunan and completed in 1886); and the Uniting Church Chapel constructed in Victorian Georgian style (1854) and the Uniting Church in Victorian Academic Gothic style (1888). The Catholic Presbytery is in Victorian Rustic Gothic style. The coming of rail in 1885 brought the Victorian Filigree style

(1886).

Gold rush A gold rush or gold fever is a discovery of gold—sometimes accompanied by other precious metals and rare-earth minerals—that brings an onrush of miners seeking their fortune. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, New Z ...

buildings include the Federation Warehouse style York Flour Mill (1892), now a café and gallery, at the entrance to York and many of the buildings in Avon Terrace. The

Western Australian Bank The Western Australian Bank was a bank operating in Western Australia from 1841 to 1927. It was formed amidst the aftermath of the sale of the first Bank of Western Australia (1837-1841), which had sold out to the Bank of Australasia, as pro ...

building, designed by JJ

Talbot Hobbs Lieutenant General Sir Joseph John Talbot Hobbs, (24 August 1864 – 21 April 1938) was an Australian architect and First World War general. Early life Hobbs was born in London, the son of Joseph and his wife Frances Ann Hobbs (née Wilson). E ...

and the

(designed by

James William Wright James William Wright (9 October 1854 – 3 October 1917) was an Australian architect, civil engineer, and politician. He established the first private architectural practice in Western Australia in 1884, which now operates as Cameron Chisholm Ni ...

), are in Victorian Academic Classical style. Most of the main street, Avon Terrace, has Victorian or Federation Free Classical buildings, including the Co-op (IGA) (1888 façade), the York Motor Museum, and Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium (1887) designed by Wright, with a cluster of Federation Romanesque buildings at the north end, including the former

(1897). Early 20th century buildings include the stunning Federation Mannerist (or Edwardian Opulence) style

Town Hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...

(also designed by Wright, and built in 1911), and an exemplar of Federation Filigree style, the Castle Hotel (1905), designed by William G Wolf, who designed His Majesty's Theatre. File:Imperial Inn and Town Hall.jpg,

and

File:York Post Office.jpg,

File:CastleHotelYork.jpg, Castle Hotel File:York Hospital.jpg, Old York Hospital File:Holy Trinity Church at York, Western Australia (cropped).jpg, Holy Trinity Church File:York Flour Mill.jpg, York Flour Mill File:Westralia Bank.jpg,

File:Dinsdales.JPG, Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium

List of notable buildings

* Castle Hotel *Central Buildings *

*Convent and convent school *Davies Buildings * Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium *Edwards' Store (former) * Eliza's Cottage *

* Fire Station (former) *

Flour Mill A gristmill (also: grist mill, corn mill, flour mill, feed mill or feedmill) grinds cereal grain into flour and middlings. The term can refer to either the grinding mechanism or the building that holds it. Grist is grain that has been separat ...

* Holy Trinity Church *Hope Farm * Hospital (Former) *

*Kairey Cottage *Kings Head Hotel (former) * Marwick's Shed * Masonic Hall (former) *Mongers Store * Motor Museum *Nineteen Mile Inn (former) *

Post office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...

* School (Former) * Railway station building * Residency Museum *Sargent's pharmacy * St Patrick's Church * Settlers House *

* Western Australian Bank (former) * York Palace Hotel

List of notable people

Peter Barrow Peter Barrow (30 July 1813 – 6 October 1899) was a son of Sir John Barrow, 1st Baronet, and an early settler in the colony of Western Australia, becoming a magistrate and Protector of Aborigines, Guardian of Aborigines, Anglican priest and scho ...

(1813–1899), magistrate and Guardian of Aborigines, priest and school teacher in York in 1840 and 1841. *

Chance Bateman Chance Bateman (born 21 June 1981) is an Australian rules football coach and former player who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League. Bateman was Hawthorn's first indigenous player to reach 100 games, first Ab ...

(1981–), former

AFL AFL may refer to: Sports * American Football League (AFL), a name shared by several separate and unrelated professional American football leagues: ** American Football League (1926) (a.k.a. "AFL I"), first rival of the National Football Leagu ...

player for the

Hawthorn Football Club The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Mulgrave, Victoria, that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club was founded in 1902 in the inner-east suburb of Hawt ...

. *

Enid Bennett Enid Eulalie Bennett (15 July 1893 – 14 May 1969) was an Australian silent film actress, mostly active in American film. Early life Bennett was born on 15 July 1893 in York, Western Australia, the daughter of Nellie Mary Louise (''née'' Wa ...

(1893–1969),

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

actress, born in York. *

Marjorie Bennett Marjorie Bennett (15 January 1896 – 14 June 1982) was an Australian actress who worked mainly in the United Kingdom and the United States. She began her acting career during the silent film era. Career Bennett was born in York in Western ...

(1896-1982) was an

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

n-born

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

and film

actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek ...

born in York, who worked mainly in

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

and the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, who began her acting career during the

era, sister of Enid. *

(1811–1994), early settler and first resident magistrate in York. *

William Locke Brockman William Locke Brockman (1802 – 28 November 1872) was an early settler in Western Australia, who became a leading pastoralist and stock breeder, and a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council. Biography Born in Kent, England in 18 ...

(1802–1872), an early settler who became a leading pastoralist and stock breeder, and a

Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council Following are lists of members of the Western Australian Legislative Council: Prior to responsible government: *Members of the Western Australian Legislative Council, 1832-1870, 1832–1870 *Members of the Western Australian Legislative Council, ...

. *

Eliza Brown Eliza Brown (1903 – 1983) was an American classic female blues singer and recording artist, who also went by the alias Ozie McPherson and after marriage as Ozie Ware. She was active in the late 1920s, when she recorded several tracks for Columb ...

(1811–1896), wife of Thomas Brown. She and Thomas wrote letters to her father, William Bussey, many of which were published in the book "A Faithful Picture" by Peter Cowan. * Thomas Brown (1803–1862), early York settler farming at Grass Dale, which he purchased from

, became a Member of the

Western Australian Legislative Council The Western Australian Legislative Council is the upper house of the Parliament of Western Australia, a state of Australia. It is regarded as a house of review for legislation passed by the Legislative Assembly, the lower house. The two Houses ...

. *

(1812–1875), Lieutenant of 21st Regiment, stationed in York in 1836, led attack in Avon Valley against Aboriginal peoples, established military post in Bunbury which was named after him, his letters were published in 1930. * Lockier Burges (1814–1886), emigrated to Western Australia with his two brothers William Burges and Samuel Evans Burges. They took up 5,600 acres (2,300 ha) of land at York in 1837, which they named Tipperary after their birthplace. *

Thomas Burges Thomas Burges (July 1830 – 7 August 1893) was an Australian pastoralist and politician who was a member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia on three occasions – from 1874 to 1878, from 1885 to 1887, and from 1890 until his deat ...

(1830–1893) was a pastoralist and politician who was a member of the Legislative Council of

. *

William Burges William Burges (; 2 December 1827 – 20 April 1881) was an English architect and designer. Among the greatest of the Victorian art-architects, he sought in his work to escape from both nineteenth-century industrialisation and the Neoc ...

(1806 or 1808–1876), brother of Lockier. As secretary of the

York Agricultural Society York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a m ...

in 1847, he was closely involved in that body's ultimately successful petition for Western Australia to become a

penal colony A penal colony or exile colony is a settlement used to exile prisoners and separate them from the general population by placing them in a remote location, often an island or distant colonial territory. Although the term can be used to refer to ...

. He strongly opposed female convicts. * Solomon Cook (1812–1871) was an American engineer who constructed a substantial mill and one of Western Australia's first steam engines at York. *James Cowan (1848–1937), York Clerk of Courts and Postmaster (1864–1870) who became registrar and Master of the Supreme Court; husband of

Edith Cowan Edith Dircksey Cowan (' Brown; 2 August 18619 June 1932) was an Australian social reformer who worked for the rights and welfare of women and children. She is best known as the first Australian woman to serve as a member of parliament. Cowan h ...

.Pamela Statham Drew and AM (Tony) Clack: York, Western Australia, A Documentary History, p285; Rica Erikson: Dictionary of Western Australians re Cowan. *

Walkinshaw Cowan Walkinshaw Cowan (25 December 180822 January 1888) was private secretary to Western Australian Governors John Hutt, Andrew Clarke and Frederick Irwin, then in 1848 he became Guardian of Aborigines and a justice of the peace, and then resident m ...

(1808–1888) was the Protector of Natives at York (from 1848), also a Police Magistrate and then Resident Magistrate of York and Beverley (1863–1887). *William Cowan (1854–1940), York Clerk of Courts (1870–1875), resident magistrate (1897–1919). During the whole term of occupancy on the bench, none of his decisions was upset on appeal, including an appeal to the High Court. * Cowits (c.1832–1868), first Aboriginal Assistant at the York Police Station, who at 10 years of age accompanied Henry Landor and

Henry Maxwell Lefroy Henry Maxwell Lefroy (August 1818 – 18 July 1879) was a prominent explorer of the Mid West and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia. He was the son of Rev. John Henry George Lefroy, the rector of Compton and Ashe, who died when h ...

on their 1842 expedition south east of Beverley, and later accompanied Lefroy's 1863 expedition to what is now called Lake Lefroy. *

Les Craig Leslie "Les" Craig CMG (23 November 1892 – 9 February 1966) was an Australian politician who was a member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1934 to 1956, representing South-West Province. Craig was born in York, a town i ...

CMG (1892–1966) was a politician who was a member of the Legislative Council of

. * Samuel Smale Craig (1802–1869), constructed the Castle Hotel in 1853 and then ran it until his death. *

(1810–1853), the first European to cross the

, where he discovered the fertile Avon Valley and explored the future locations of Northam, Toodyay and York. *William Dinsdale Snr (1816–1878), arrived 1858 as a

, brought family out in 1863, York shoe and boot maker, also a small farmer. *William Dinsdale Jnr (1851–1921) Mayor of York from 3 December 1896 to November 1898, and again from 20 November 1901 to 1907; built Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium; in 1897 became Manager and then co-owner of the York Flour Mill. *Robert Doncon (1814–1881) with his wife Sophia in 1849 built and then ran the Kings Head Inn. * Aimable Duperouzel (1831–1901), French born

who became a successful farmer and land owner. * John Drummond (1816–1906) was an early

settler A settler is a person who has human migration, migrated to an area and established a permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. A settler who migrates to an area previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited may be described as a ...

and the first Inspector of

Native Police Australian native police units, consisting of Aboriginal troopers under the command (usually) of at least one white officer, existed in various forms in all Australian mainland colonies during the nineteenth and, in some cases, into the twentie ...

. *William Edwards (1792–1865), former soldier who had fought at Waterloo, moved to York in the 1840s,Pamela Statham Drew and AM (Tony) Clack: York, Western Australia, A Documentary History, p56. his grandsons Charles and Kenneth established in 1882 the store which is now the York and Districts Co-op. *William Edwards Jnr (1821–1889), opened a store in 1867 (where Central Buildings now are), then into a new building on the same site at the end of 1871; built Heartleap Hill. * Zac Fisher (1998–), AFL player for the

Carlton Football Club The Carlton Football Club, nicknamed the Blues, is a professional Australian rules football club that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's top professional competition. Founded in 1864 in Carlton, an inner suburb of Mel ...

. *Patrick Joseph Gibney (1843–1915), Catholic priest in York from 1868 to 1900, responsible for constructing St Patrick's Catholic Church, York. * Eric William Gillett (1899—1987) was mayor of the Municipality of Claremont from 1940 until 1953, and Chancellor of the

University of Western Australia The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a public research university in the Australian state of Western Australia. The university's main campus is in Perth, the state capital, with a secondary campus in Albany, Western Australia, Albany an ...

from 1948 until 1956. *

Louis Giustiniani Louis (or Luis) Giustiniani was the first missionary to the Swan River Colony. He was outspoken in defending Aboriginal Australians, but in doing so alienated the colony and was eventually removed from office. After leaving Western Australia, Giu ...

was an Italian missionary who came to Western Australia in 1836 with his wife Maria to establish a Moravian style mission employing Aboriginal peoples at Guildford. He also visited York. He formed the view that the settlers were always at fault in conflicts with Aboriginal peoples, reporting his findings to Lord Glenelg. He was attacked for his views and was recalled to London. * David Gault (born 1975) is a former

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

er who played for the South Fremantle Football Club in the

West Australian Football League The West Australian Football League (WAFL) is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The league currently consists of ten teams, which play each other in a 20-round season usually lasting from March to September, ...

. *

Ron Gaunt Ronald Arthur Gaunt (26 February 1934 – 31 March 2012) was an Australian cricketer who played in three Test matches between 1958 and 1964. He was chiefly a fast bowler, who took 266 wickets in first-class cricket at an average of 26.85, play ...

(1934-2012) was an Australian

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

er who played in 3

Tests Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film), ...

from 1958 to 1964. *Patrick Hackett (c.1857–1884), Police Constable, murdered in Beverley by Thomas Carbury and Andrew Miller. *

Edward Hamersley (senior) Edward Hamersley (25 March 1810 – 26 November 1874) was an early settler in colonial Western Australia. He became a successful and wealthy pastoralist, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council. The Hamersley family became ...

(1810–1874), early settler and landholder. *

Edward Hamersley (junior) Edward Hamersley (1 September 1835 or 1836 – 14 January 1921) was a Western Australian pastoralist, and a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for nearly ten years. Biography Early life Edward Hamersley was born in Paris ...

(1835–1927), son of

, inherited Wilberforce. Elected in 1880 to the Legislative Council seat of York. *John Hardey (1802-1885) was an early settler and farmed near York, brother of Joseph. *Joseph Hardey (1804-1875) was a Wesleyan preacher from Lincolnshire and early settler, farmed at Tranby House Maylands and then at York with his brother John. *

Nicholas Hasluck Nicholas Paul Hasluck Order of Australia, AM (born 17 October 1942) is an Australian novelist, poet, short story writer, and former judge. Early life Nicholas Hasluck was born in Canberra. His father, Sir Paul Hasluck was a minister in the F ...

(1942–), retired judge and poet, has a home in York. * Sir Paul Hasluck (1905–1993), , politician and

Governor-General of Australia The governor-general of Australia is the representative of the monarch, currently King Charles III, in Australia.Edmund Henderson Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Edmund Yeamans Walcott Henderson KCB (19 April 1821 – 8 December 1896) was an officer in the British Army who was Comptroller-General of Convicts in Western Australia from 1850 to 1863, Home Office Surveyor-General o ...

(1821–1896), Comptroller-General of Convicts in Western Australia from 1850 to 1863 and in about mid 1854 drew a picture of York from Mt Brown, which was turned into an engraving which was published in ''

The Illustrated London News ''The Illustrated London News'' appeared first on Saturday 14 May 1842, as the world's first illustrated weekly news magazine. Founded by Herbert Ingram, it appeared weekly until 1971, then less frequently thereafter, and ceased publication in ...

'' of 28 February 1857. * Sir William Heseltine (1930–), Private Secretary to

Sir Robert Menzies ''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as p ...

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

, 1955–1959, and later Private Secretary to the Sovereign, and Keeper of the Queen's Archives, lived at York for a while during retirement. *James William Hope (1851-1918) appointed as Resident Medical Officer for the York District in 1874, married Helena Aurora Monger in 1878, in 1882 became Medical Officer at

Fremantle Prison Fremantle Prison, sometimes referred to as Fremantle Gaol or Fremantle Jail, is a former Australian prison and World Heritage Site in Fremantle, Western Australia. The site includes the prison cellblocks, gatehouse, perimeter walls, cottage ...

and then superintendent of the

Fremantle Lunatic Asylum Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for ...

, later became Commissioner of Health. *William Hoops (1819–1893), farmed with Samuel Burges before becoming a storekeeper and postmaster in York. *Henry Horton (1818–1887), licensee of the "Lakes Inn" from 1859, and ran a passenger service from Guildford to York. *

(1810–1891), architect of a number of York buildings. *

Moondyne Joe Joseph Johns ( February 1826 – 13 August 1900), better known as Moondyne Joe, was an English convict and Western Australia's best-known bushranger. Born into poor and relatively difficult circumstances, he became something of a petty criminal ...

(c 1826–1900), a

and

's best-known

bushranger Bushrangers were originally escaped convicts in the early years of the British settlement of Australia who used the bush as a refuge to hide from the authorities. By the 1820s, the term had evolved to refer to those who took up "robbery under ...

, spent a night in the York lockup in December 1865 during his escape from custody. Republished in 1998 by Carlisle, Western Australia: Hesperian Press, p.40. . *

Robert Juniper Robert Litchfield Juniper, AM (7 January 192920 December 2012) was an Australian artist, art teacher, illustrator, painter, printmaker and sculptor. Early life Juniper was born in the wheat-belt town of Merredin, Western Australia. He studied ...

, artist and designer of the stained glass windows of Holy Trinity Church, York. *King Dick, an Aboriginal man who showed Edward Parker and William McKnoe an all weather route from St Ronan's Well to Mahogany Inn in 1849 (called King Dick's line of road). *Billy Kickett (also called Noongale) (1853–1905), aboriginal who (with Tommy Windich) accompanied

John Forrest Sir John Forrest (22 August 1847 – 2 SeptemberSome sources give the date as 3 September 1918 1918) was an Australian explorer and politician. He was the first premier of Western Australia (1890–1901) and a long-serving cabinet minister i ...

and

Alexander Forrest Alexander Forrest Order of St Michael and St George, CMG (22 September 1849 – 20 June 1901) was an explorer and surveying, surveyor of Western Australia, and later also a member of parliament. As a government surveyor, Forrest explored many ...

on their expedition across the

Great Australian Bight The Great Australian Bight is a large oceanic bight, or open bay, off the central and western portions of the southern coastline of mainland Australia. Extent Two definitions of the extent are in use – one used by the International Hydrog ...

to Adelaide in mid 1870. * Edward Wilson Landor (1816–1878), lawyer, scholar, writer and pioneer, who wrote about Western Australia including visits to Balladong Farm and going to the York Fair in the 1840s, brother of Henry Landor. * Henry Landor (1816–1877), settler, farmer, physician, scientist and explorer who farmed with Nathan Knight on Bland's 4,000 acre farm Balladong from 1841 to 1844, and was active in the community. He emigrated to Ontario and became the first medical superintendent of the Asylum for the Insane,

London, Ontario London (pronounced ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River, approximate ...

and an advocate of

moral treatment Moral treatment was an approach to mental disorder based on humane psychosocial care or moral discipline that emerged in the 18th century and came to the fore for much of the 19th century, deriving partly from psychiatry or psychology and partly fr ...

of mental patients. *

(1818–1879) was an early settler in York and a prominent explorer of the

Mid West The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four Census Bureau Region, census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of ...

and Goldfields–Esperance regions. * Dominic McCarthy (1892–1975), was an Australian recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

, born in York. *Esmae Marwick (1911–1990), founder of The York Society. * Thomas Marwick (1895–1960) was a politician and the first West Australian to have served in both houses of federal parliament. * William Marwick (1833-1925) was a settler who came from England in 1852 as an 18-year-old boy to York, gradually built up a large carting and fodder business, and amassed large land holdings. He was closely involved in the opening up of the goldfields in the 1880s and 1890s. * Reg Mattiske (1912–1992), born and raised in York, was a politician and member of the

from 1956 to 1965, representing

Metropolitan Province An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian Churches with traditional hierarchical structure, including Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity. In general, an ecclesiastical province consists of sever ...

. * Richard Goldsmith Meares (1780–1862), second resident magistrate of York and Beverley. * Janet Millett (1821–1904), née Webster, wife of York Anglican priest Rev Edward Millett (1863–1869) and author of '' An Australian Parsonage'' (published 1872). *

Jimmy Melbourne James Edward Melbourne (''c.'' 1876 – 13 December 1937) was the first Indigenous Australian to play senior Australian rules football in the Western Australian Football Association. Melbourne was orphaned at the age of four and spent his form ...

(c.1876–1937) was the first

Indigenous Australian Indigenous Australians or Australian First Nations are people with familial heritage from, and membership in, the ethnic groups that lived in Australia before British colonisation. They consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples ...

to play senior

in a major Australian football league. * Frederick Monger (1863-1919), businessman and politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of

from 1892 to 1903 and again from 1905 to 1914, representing the seat of York. He and his father,

John Henry Monger John Henry Monger Jr (25 January 1831 – 23 December 1892) was a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council from 1870 to 1875, and again from 1890 to 1892. Monger was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1831; his father, John Henry ...

Jr, were the first father–son pair to be elected to the Parliament of Western Australia. *

(1802–1867), early settler, opened first hotel and store in York, became a prominent land owner, built the first two stages of

. *

Jr (1831–1892), was a

Member Member may refer to: * Military jury, referred to as "Members" in military jargon * Element (mathematics), an object that belongs to a mathematical set * In object-oriented programming, a member of a class ** Field (computer science), entries in ...

of the

n Legislative Council from 1870 to 1875, and again from 1890 to 1892. * Joseph Taylor Monger (1831–1892), was a

from 1875 to 1880, and a York merchant. *

George Fletcher Moore George Fletcher Moore (10 December 1798 – 30 December 1886) was a prominent early settler in colonial Western Australia, and "one fthe key figures in early Western Australia's ruling elite" (Cameron, 2000). He conducted a number of exploring ...

(1798–1856), early settler and explorer of the Avon River and early land owner. * Joseph Nunan (1854–1917),

Fenian The word ''Fenian'' () served as an umbrella term for the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and their affiliate in the United States, the Fenian Brotherhood, secret political organisations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries dedicated ...

convict, architect of architect of St Patrick's Church in York. *

Walter Padbury Walter Padbury (22 December 1820 – 18 April 1907) was a British-born Australian pioneer, politician and philanthropist. Early Life Padbury was born in Stonesfield in the English county of Oxfordshire on 22 December 1820. At the age of 1 ...

(1820–1907), merchant and philanthropist, worked as a shepherd for the Burges brothers in York from 1836 to 1842. *Stephen Parker (senior) (c.1790–c.1880), early York settler. *

Stephen Stanley Parker Stephen Stanley Parker (1817–1904) was an early settler and pioneer of Western Australia and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council. Biography Early life Parker was born on 24 May 1817 in Lyminge, Kent. He came to the Swan Ri ...

(1817–1904), son of Stephen Parker (senior) * Stephen Henry Parker (1846–1927), son of Stephen Stanley Parker *

Marlion Pickett Marlion Pickett (born 6 January 1992) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). At age 27 and after a six and a half season career with in the West Austral ...

(born 1892) is a professional

er playing for the

Richmond Football Club The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football team playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). Between its inception in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond in 1885 and 1907, the club competed in the Victo ...

in the

Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the only fully professional competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body and is responsible for controlling the laws of the gam ...

(AFL). He was the first player to debut in a VFL/AFL grand final in 67 years and the first to win a premiership in his debut game since 1926. Has lived in York. *

Christopher Pullin Christopher James Lonsdale Pullin is a former judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia from 10 September 2001. He served in the Court’s general division until 2005 when he was appointed as an appeal judge to the newly created Western Aus ...

(1947–), former judge, has a home in York. * Joseph Pyke (1831–1910) who settled in York in 1857 with his wife Elizabeth, become a store keeper and land owner, and took a prominent and active role in town affairs. * Hugh Roche (1893–1962) was a politician who served as a Country Party member of the Legislative Council of

from 1940 to 1960. * Herbie Screaigh (1911–2002) was an

er who played for the

East Perth Football Club The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club based in Leederville, Western Australia, current playing in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). Formed in 1902 as the Union Football Club, the club ...

in the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL). * John Smithies (1802–1872), Wesleyan minister who tried to establish the Gerald Mission in York. * John Taylor (1821–1890), son of an Oxford carpenter, arrived 1841 with a horse and cow, indentured to Thomas Brown, leased and then purchased Yangedine, built a farming estate. *

Lindsay Thorn Lindsay Thorn (7 June 1891 – 13 July 1971) was an Australian politician who was a Country Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1930 to 1959, representing the seat of Toodyay. He was a minister in the governmen ...

(1891–1971) was a Country Party member of the Legislative Assembly of

from 1930 to 1959, representing the seat of Toodyay and a minister in the government of Sir

Ross McLarty Sir Duncan Ross McLarty, (17 March 1891 – 22 December 1962) was an Australian politician and the 17th Premier of Western Australia. Early life McLarty was born in Pinjarra, Western Australia, the youngest of seven children of Edward McLarty ...

. *

(1805-1877) was one of the first settlers in York, being with

the first to breed merino sheep (later Balladong Farm). Bland and Trimmer built the first building in the town, which was sold to

in 1836, and he later moved to the Albany region. *

Arthur Wansbrough Arthur William Wansbrough (20 August 1877 – 3 September 1949) was an Australian trade unionist and politician who was a Labor Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1924 to 1936, representing the seat of Albany. ...

(1877–1949) was a trade unionist and politician who was a Labor Party member of the Legislative Assembly of

from 1924 to 1936, representing the seat of Albany. * Tommy Windich (c1840-c1876),

indigenous Indigenous may refer to: *Indigenous peoples *Indigenous (ecology), presence in a region as the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention *Indigenous (band), an American blues-rock band *Indigenous (horse), a Hong Kong racehorse ...

member of a number of

exploring Exploration refers to the historical practice of discovering remote lands. It is studied by geographers and historians. Two major eras of exploration occurred in human history: one of convergence, and one of divergence. The first, covering most ...

expeditions in

in the 1860s and 1870s. Worked at York. * Frank Wittenoom (1855–1939) was an

explorer Exploration refers to the historical practice of discovering remote lands. It is studied by geographers and historians. Two major eras of exploration occurred in human history: one of convergence, and one of divergence. The first, covering most ...

and pastoralist. *

John Burdett Wittenoom John Burdett Wittenoom (24 October 1788 – 23 January 1855) was a colonial clergyman who was the second Anglican clergyman to perform religious services in the Swan River Colony, Australia, soon after its establishment in 1829. Biography Ea ...

(1788–1855), early settler and land owner. *

Garnet Wood Garnet Barrington Wood (1 July 1888 – 3 January 1952) was an Australian politician who served as a Country Party member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1936 until his death. He was a minister in the government of Ross Mc ...

(1888–1952), Country Party member of the Legislative Council of

and a minister in the government of

, who farmed at York.

Facilities

The York Visitor Centre is located in the

. York is well serviced with all essential facilities, including York District High School for students from kindergarten to Year 10. The York Community Resource Centre enables access to tertiary education. There is a 24/7 medical service, the York District Hospital, library, and swimming pool. York has had a community radio station, Voice of the Avon 101.3FM, since 1994. Beginning life as York FM in the old convent the current location is at the corner of Barker St and Forrest St. The volunteer-driven station presents a 24/7 music service with presenters providing their own programs for 82 hours per week between 6am and 10pm.

Climate

York is in a

temperate climate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...

zone and experiences distinctly dry (and hot) summers and cool, wet winters. Under the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

, York has a

Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...

. York has hotter summer afternoons than

, with a huge difference compared to the

Fremantle Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for ...

shoreline. Winters are more likely to see cold nights instead due to the lower maritime influence.

Air frost Freezing, available onlinlibrary.wmo.int/ref> or frost occurs when the air temperature falls below the freezing point of water (0 °C, 32 °F, 273 K). This is usually measured at the height of 1.2 metres above the ground surface ...

during the night can emerge on certain occasions during the colder months. Climate data has been recorded by the

Bureau of Meteorology The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM or BoM) is an executive agency of the Australian Government responsible for providing weather services to Australia and surrounding areas. It was established in 1906 under the Meteorology Act, and brought together ...

at York Post Office from 1877 to 1996, and another site from 1996 onwards. At the post office site, the mean annual daily maximum temperature is and the mean annual daily minimum temperature is . The hottest month is January with a mean maximum temperature of , while the coolest month is July with a mean minimum temperature of . Mean temperatures are based on data from 1880 to 1996. York has a mean annual rainfall of . The wettest month is June with and the driest is January with . A severe

thunderstorm A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm or a lightning storm, is a storm characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere, known as thunder. Relatively weak thunderstorms are someti ...

lashed the town and surrounding areas on 27 January 2011, resulting in roofs being ripped off, trees being uprooted and power lines being brought down. About 40 houses were damaged in the town as a result of the storm but no injuries were reported.

Notes

References

External links

Shire of York
{{authority control Towns in Western Australia Grain receival points of Western Australia 1831 establishments in Australia