Benger
Western Australia
Benger is located in Western Australia
Benger
Benger
Coordinates33°10′41″S 115°51′43″E / 33.178°S 115.862°E / -33.178; 115.862
Population159 (SAL 2021)[1]
Established1885
Postcode(s)6223
Area70.8 km2 (27.3 sq mi)
Location
  • 153 km (95 mi) from Perth
  • 13 km (8 mi) from Harvey
LGA(s)Shire of Harvey
State electorate(s)Murray-Wellington
Federal division(s)Forrest

Benger is a locality just north of Brunswick Junction in the South West of Western Australia.

The South Western Highway runs through the region. It is also a crossing loop on the south-west railway between Armadale and Bunbury.

History

Before European settlement, the region was inhabited by the Pindjarup people, in whose language "Benger" may have meant "swamp" according to some sources (the word Pijar was also used).[2] The explorers Thomas Peel and Stephen Henty travelled through the district in 1835. The area was known as the "flats of Mornington", and some years later, Mornington Siding was established with a hall, school and shop/post office. Sandalwood from the area was used in the Swan River Colony. In 1887, John Partridge founded a dairy in the area, which is still open today as the White Rocks Museum and Dairy. The town was renamed from Mornington to Benger in 1902, although many geographic names in the area (including the creek near the school) bear the original name.[3][4]

A bushfire broke out in the Benger swamp near the town in January 2013, burning out 300 hectares (741 acres) of farmland.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Benger (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
  2. ↑ "History of country town names – B". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2007.
  3. ↑ Shire of Harvey. "Local Towns - Benger". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2006.
  4. ↑ Harvey Tourism - Brunswick Junction. Retrieved 2 October 2006 Archived 21 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "Benger Swamp bushfire". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
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