WYALKATCHEM
Wyalkatchem is the third
of the small towns, in the great WA Wheatbelt, on the Merridan to
Northam loop road. Servicing the grain belt area is the main reason
for being for Wyalkatchem. Wyalkatchem has a few things going for
them; primarily the Agricultural Museum.
This town is well planned and clearly heritage factors are important.
The town
won the state tidy town award in 2000 and 2002 and then won the
national award in 2003.

Wyalkatchem is
an Aboriginal name first recorded for a waterhole as Aboriginal names
in this region rarely end in em. The change of spelling from
Wyalcatchem to Wyalkatchem in 1911 was done by the Department of Lands
& Surveys according to rules the Department had adopted for spelling
Aboriginal names. The meaning of the name is not known.
When the
extension of the railway east from Dowerin was planned in 1908 land
was set aside for a future townsite in the area of Wyalcatchem Tank.
The route of the railway and site for a station was not fixed until
1910, and action followed to then fix the position of the townsite and
survey town lots. Following the survey of the lots the townsite was
gazetted spelt Wyalkatchem in 1911.
The Wyalkatchem War Memorial is
represented within the memorial rose gardens. 
The Wyalkatchem Hotel is a 100 year
plus pub. This quite expansive and wide fronted hotel. 
The Anglican
and Catholic
Churches are both modern offerings.
There is no doubt this Wheatbelt town
has something to offer.
So refreshment or a coffee should be a consideration. That said a
diversion to this Wheatbelt loop of towns is not necessary.
Heritage diary 
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