Located two hours drive (or 185 kilometres) northeast of Perth is the rural town of Wongan Hills, the centre of a prosperous grain, sheep and pig farming district.
The name Wongan Hills translates from the Aboriginal Wongan Katta or 'Whispering Hills', referring to the wind whispering through the greenstone laterite hills which rise just north-west of the townsite. These hills are the largest single area of natural vegetation remaining in the northern wheatbelt.
From the summit of Mount O’Brien you can visit the Centenary of Federation Wheatbelt Lookout. From here you will have panoramic views of the countryside including Lake Ninan and Lake Hinds.
Wongan Hills offers a few walk trails such as the Mount Matilda Walk Trail. The newly interpretive flora walk takes three hours and the scenic walk five hours to complete. It features rare and endangered flora and outstanding fauna.
Or perhaps enjoy the Wongan Hills heritage two kilometre walk trail, which starts and ends at the Wongan Hills Railway Station. Pass historical places of interest which are well marked with interpretation signs.
Wongan Hills flora is extremely diverse with more than 1400 species of flowering plants. Of greater importance is that 24 of these species are unique to the Wongan Hills area.
Reynoldson Reserve is a truly outstanding reserve in November when the verticordia abound with seven different varieties. The one hour walk trail resembles a massive garden of colours, shapes and sizes with scarcely room to tread.
The local museum is located in the original Hospital building in Camm Street and open on Sundays from 1300 to 1700.
Visitors are well catered for with accommodation at the hotel/motel, the guesthouse or the caravan park. The local roadhouse offers seven day service for stocking up on fuel and food. Barbecue facilities are available at Mount O’Brien.
