Pingelly, Western Australia

Pingelly Western Australia
Great Southern Highway in Pingelly, 2014
Pingelly
Coordinates	32°32′02″S 117°05′10″E / 32.534°S 117.086°E / -32.534; 117.086Coordinates: 32°32′02″S 117°05′10″E / 32.534°S 117.086°E / -32.534; 117.086
Population	814 (2006 census)
Postcode(s)	6308
Elevation	297 m (974 ft)
Location	158 km (98 mi) from Perth
LGA(s)	Shire of Pingelly
State electorate(s)	Wagin
Federal Division(s)	O'Connor
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 23.1 °C 74 °F 10.4 °C 51 °F 448.0 mm 17.6 in

Pingelly is a town and shire located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 158 kilometres (98 mi) from Perth via the Brookton Highway and Great Southern Highway. The town is also located on the Great Southern railway line.

The surrounding areas produce wheat and other cereal crops. The town is a receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling. At the 2006 census, Pingelly had a population of 814.

The town was originally a railway siding along the Great Southern Railway line, built by the Western Australian Land Company, and opened in 1889. Later the same year the company designed the town and made land available. In 1896 the state government purchased the railway and the land and gazetted the townsite in 1898. It name is Aboriginal in origin and is the name of the Pingeculling Rocks found to the north of the town. The name was first recorded in 1873, and the original settlers referred to the area as Pingegulley for years before the town was gazetted.

In early 1898 the population of the town was 89, 52 males and 37 females.

Tenders for the construction of the local Agricultural Hall were advertised in late 1893, the contract was awarded to Thorne, Bower and Stewart in early 1894. The Hall was opened in September of the same year with a tamar hunt and a ball to mark the occasion.

Between 1939 and 1941 three motor racing events were held annually in the town, using a circuit which went in a clockwise direction. The last event, won by Harley Hammond in his Marquette Special was the final motor sport event held in Western Australia before racing stopped due to World War 2.