Authors

Simon Stevens, University of Notre Dame AustraliaFollow

Title

Greenough

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2009

Abstract

Greenough is a rural farming community located on fertile flats stretching approximately 12-25km south of Geraldton. The name of the flats, town and shire derive from the Greenough River. Captain George Grey named the river after Sir George Greenough, President of the Royal Geographical Society. Colonial settlement in the 1850s led to the indigenous communities being savaged by disease and frontier conflict. The first colonial settlers were pastoralists, followed by farmers and subsidiary commercial interests. A settlement evolved in the 1860s boasting a vibrant community life. In 1888 a great flood devastated Greenough, costing at least four lives and destroying or severely damaging most homes and businesses. The lack of a town plan meant that Greenough did not have the cohesion necessary to withstand natural disasters and economic downturns. In the three decades that followed the flood the town atrophied, but the rural community survived. Historic Central Greenough is a reminder of the attempt to rebuild the town after the flood. The emphasis on the establishment and resurrection of religious institutions, post-1888, is symbolic of the belief in restoring a covenant with God, as if the flood had washed away sin. Central Greenough has national heritage significance.

ISBN: 9781921401152

Comments

Due to copyright restrictions, ‘Greenough’ is not available for download.

The Historical encyclopedia of Western Australia is available from the publisher's website here

The Historical encyclopedia of Western Australia may be accessed from the National Library of Australia here

Recommended Citation

Stevens, S. (2009). Greenough. In J. Gregory, & J. Gothard (Eds). Historical encyclopedia of Western Australia (pp. 428-429). Crawley, WA: University of Western Australia Press.