Rabbit Proof Fence No 1

Author

Shire of Westonia

Place Number

12080

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Location

Great Eastern Hwy Walgoolan

Location Details

Local Government

Westonia

Region

Wheatbelt

Construction Date

Constructed from 1901

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
RHP - To be assessed	Current	25 Nov 2005

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	18 Jun 1998	Category 5	Category 5 Historic Site without built features; recognise, for example with a plaque, place name, or reflection in urban or architectural design.

Statement of Significance

The significance of this fence was with the introduction of Agriculture within the Wheatbelt and the preventative measures that were taken to resist the spread of the rabbit population.

Physical Description

It was made from Salt water paperbark posts, wire netting 42 inches wide, with a mesh not less than 1 1/2 inches, and no lighter than 17 gauge, ‘b’ grade with barbed and plain wire. Six inches of the erected wire netting was buried in the ground. Length 1837km (1139 miles) The minimum height of the fence was 2'-10". It is recognised by a plaque along the Great Eastern Highway. The Rabbit Proof Fence is the actual boundary of the Shire of Westonia.

History

The Rabbit Proof Fence is the longest fence in the world and cost £250 per kilometre to construct. It was carried out by the public works department. It was to prevent the rabbit population from moving east into the wheat and sheep areas of WA. The No. 1 fence commences at Starvation Boat Harbour (Hopetown) and terminated at Wallal between Port Headland and Broome.

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	Le Page, J.S.H.	Building a State	1986

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id	Title	Medium	Year Of Publication
7300	The longest fence in the world : a history of the No. 1 Rabbit Proof fence from its beginning until recent times.	Book	1991

Place Type

Other Built Type

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	GOVERNMENTAL	Other
Present Use	GOVERNMENTAL	Other

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Other	METAL	Other Metal

Historic Themes

General	Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Community services & utilities

Creation Date

10 Sep 1998

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.