Railways of Australia

The construction of the Perth/Albany Road in the early 1850?s brought the fine grazing lands in this region to the attention of many pastoralists, who took up leases while retaining their permanent properties at places like York. One of the first to graze sheep in the area was Elijah Quartermaine around 1850/51. Another pioneer to take up the early leases was Edward Hammersley who took up 10,000 acres in 1852. The Woodanilling area was also a rich source of sandalwood and for many early settlers it was a valuable source of income while they were establishing their homesteads. Woodanilling was among the many districts to benefit from the opening of the Great Southern Railway in 1889. The Woodanilling townsite was gazetted in 1892.