Australia So Much to See
Kulin is a town that caters well for visitors. In addition to the hotel and motel units, a fully serviced small caravan park (ar right) has been set up, with the first five days being ‘You choose what you think it is worth”. After that, normal fees apply.
The Discovery Zone includes the War Memorial, skate park, children’s playground, events area, walkways and an information gazebo. There is a picnic area with barbecue. Adequate parking for large vehicles is provided from the wide main street.
The swimming pool at Kulin boasts the largest in water slide in regional Western Australia. The spiral water slide stands at
18 meters high and 182 metres long.
The town itself has the sad sight of empty buildings that were once shops (above left), but there is modern IGA grocery store, and a large rural services agency (above right).
Kulin, Western Australia, including Macrocarpa wildflower walk trail
To the west of the town via the Corrigin Road, the Macrocarpa walk trail is signed. Here the silvery leaves and large blooms
of Eucalyptus macrocarpa stand out. This trail is a flat and easy walk of just over one kilometre and a popular wildflower walk
particularly in spring. The circuit can also be driven.
The Eucalyptus torquata tree (below left) at the car park must have been planted, as its natural range is around Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie,
extending south to Norseman. It is sought as an ornamental tree well outside of its range.
While many flowers were finished or fading, there was still plenty to see. Those hereunder are:
· Melaleuca cordata, and new leaves of a Banksia shrub.
· Callitris canescens with cones
photographed at Dragon Rocks to the right of this Cypress pine photo.
· Verticordia
brachypoda and Melaleuca uncinata.
· Persoonia quinquenervis and Jacksonia.
· Beaufortia puberula and cones of Allocasuarina acutivalvis.
· Hibbertia gracilipes
and Goodenia pinifolia.
Eucalyptus macrocarpa has beauty at all stages, especally opening when the large cap lifts off.
The Kulin Hotel had a controversial beginning when the circumstances of its liquor grant caused a furore in state politics. In 1918,
Michael Brown, who was the largest landowner in the Jitarning District, started on the construction of a two storey stone building
with the intent of running a hotel in Jitarning. However, by the time Brown’s building was complete and had applied for a liquor
license, the Kulin Hotel had already successfully become licensed and Brown’s application was rejected. The building was then used
as a hostel and is now a private residence. It was alleged that the member for Williams – Narrogin, EB (Bertie) Johnston had
used his influence for his own personal interests. The findings of the subsequent Royal Commission were inconclusive and the Kulin
Hotel kept its hotel license. The presence of the hotel in Kulin helped it to become the major town of the area, with Jitarning
remaining a tiny town.
The Kulin Hotel was officially opened on the 1st April 1919 however no one attended, thinking it was an April fool’s joke. WM Butler, a Wickepin Machinery agent was the first licensee, however two years later the hotel was taken over by EB Johnston’s brother, HC Johnston. In 1975, the pub ran out of beer motivating the Kulin Community to purchase the hotel and run it until 1981. During these years, the profits from the pub helped to fund the local sporting clubs. Kulin still has a strong community, and they welcome visitors.
Reference Visit Kulin.