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