The townsite of Waroona is situated on the South West Highway, 108 kms from Perth.

It can be reached by road from Perth via Mandurah or Armadale and is a comfortable 1.5 hour drive from the Perth City Centre.

Other distances are:

• Waroona to Armadale - 83km
• Waroona to Mandurah - 42km
• Waroona to Bunbury - 72km
• Waroona to Rockingham - 77km

Alternatively Waroona is on the Perth/Bunbury railway and the Australind passenger train serves the town daily in each direction.

Waroona Shire has approximately 3900 people and is a progressive country town situated on the foothills of the Darling Range with many views out over the coastal plain and irrigation areas.

Total

83,512.6 ha

Townsites in Area

Waroona, Hamel, Preston Beach, Lake Clifton, Nanga Brook, and Wagerup. Several rural residential developments are located throughout the Shire eg Tuart Grove and Armstrong Hills.

Library

Located Cnr Hesse & Thatcher Streets, Waroona.

Local Industry

Dairy, whole milk, horticulture, vegetables, tourism, forestry, beef, sheep, engineering, earthmoving, bauxite mining, Wagerup Alumina Refinery.

Recreation

Recreational activities such as tennis, basketball, football, soccer and golf are well catered for in the town. A Recreation and Aquatic centre in Waroona caters for indoor aquatic activities, basketball, badminton, squash, volleyball, netball, indoor tennis, gymnastics and a gymnasium. There are also child care facilities available at the Recreation/Aquatic Centre.

The Drakesbrook Weir (Lake Moyanup), 2kms south east of the town provides the residents with swimming and fishing opportunities. Fishing in the local streams and at Preston Beach, 32km west, bushwalking and picnicking in the Darling Ranges directly to the east of the town provide sources of passive recreation.

Waroona Dam (Lake Navarino) 7km east of the town, provides opportunities for freshwater swimming, sailing, water skiing and fishing.

Climate

During the year the rainfall averages about 1060mm. The wettest months as you would expect are June/July/Aug but the rest of the year is most pleasant.

Commercial

The Commercial Centre consists of 2 IGA Supermarkets plus numerous small shops, including Fast Foods, Bakery, Restaurants, Ladies Boutique,  Gift Shop,  Hairdressers, Chemist, Delicatessens,  Banks, Road House, Motor Mechanics/Fuel Stops/Garages, Hardware store, Newsagency, Antique Store, Produce Store, Commercial Hire facilities, Garden Centre, Real Estate Agencies, Hotel, Tavern, Guest House/B&B and others.

A Veterinary Clinic serving large and small animals is also located in the town.

There is a small Industrial area where factories operate including panel beating/spray painting, aluminium window and door manufacture, concrete products manufacture, steel fabrication and machinery hire premises, toy manufacturer, and cabinet maker.

Two hotels are in the town. One in the Town Centre with accommodation, dining facilities, bottle shop, and TAB facilities, the other being a Hotel/Motel on the northern approach to the town consisting of motel units, restaurant, public bar and bottle shop.

Housing and Land

Waroona Town is expanding every year with a steady growth of new housing construction.

Housing developments are also occurring on the coast at Preston Beach and nearby rural residential areas of Tuart Grove, Armstrong Hills.

All land within the townsite is serviced by bitumen roads, scheme water, telephone and Western Power.

In the Special Residential areas the electricity is underground.

Waroona's water supply is from the Samson Dam east of the Town and to date there has never been any water shortage during the summer months.

Health Services

Waroona is serviced by visiting Doctors from the Pinjarra Forrest Medical Service who visit the town on a daily basis and have a surgery at the Waroona Health & Community Resource Centre, Henning Street, Waroona. People requiring hospitalisation use Pinjarra 23kms north, or the Peel Health Campus at Mandurah.  The nearest Emergency Services are available at Harvey Hospital and the Peel Health Campus.

• Infant Health - Clinic is serviced by visiting Sister every Tuesday.
• Silver Chain - Nurses service the district from their Harvey base.

Education

Waroona District High School - takes students to Year 10 Years 11 and 12 are transported daily via a school bus to Pinjarra Senior High School. Private schools also operate a daily bus service form Waroona to Mandurah.

• St Joseph's - A Catholic education school also takes students to year seven.
• Pre Primary - Located adjacent to Waroona District High School.
• Play Group - A self help group meets in a modern Council owned building, Henning Street, Waroona.

Employment

The principal employer in the Shire is Alcoa Australia operating an Alumina Refinery and minesite just south of the town and employing nearly 800 people.

Other industries employing significant labour include stock transporters, and local earth moving contractors.

Clubs

Many opportunities exist for joining Clubs.

There are Clubs for all sorts of arts and crafts, church groups, girl guides/boy scouts, drama club, Lions, Agricultural Society, exercise groups, ballet and swimming., and a varied number of sports.

Other organisations include Fire Brigade, St John's Ambulance, State Emergency, RSL and Lodges.

Arts and Crafts

Many opportunities exist to participate in a variety of arts and crafts and to sell the produce.

Already operating is a wooden toy maker, a timber craftsmen, Aboriginal painting and pottery.

A Creative Arts centre caters for many types of arts and crafts and an arts and crafts/tourist information centre operates in the centre of Waroona.

Churches

Currently there are 3 major churches in town Anglican, Roman Catholic and Uniting. These all have their Ladies Guilds. Other churches also cater for the religious needs of the community.

Aged Accommodation

Within the town is a Frail Aged Accommodation Centre that consists of cottage, unit and hostel accommodation for the elderly.

Aged & Day Care

Home and Community Care offers transport to the Shopping Centre, plus day care facilities on a regular basis. Meals on Wheels service is available.

Emergency Services

St John Ambulance - The St Johns Ambulance sub-branch in Waroona has modern well equipped vans available.

State Emergency - A state Emergency Service group services the District. They are equipped with a new all purpose service vehicle.

For more detailed information relating to Waroona and its surrounding areas, please contact our office on 9733 7800 or email us at warshire@waroona.wa.gov.au.