Dangin, Western Australia
Dangin is a small town in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about 7.7 (4.8 mi.) kilometres west-south-west of Quairading, in the Shire of Quairading. At the 2006 census, Dangin had a population of 283.
| Dangin Western Australia | |
|---|---|
The former Dangin Methodist Church, 2018 | |
Dangin | |
| Coordinates | 32.04°S 117.33°E |
| Population | 31 (SAL 2021) |
| Established | 1902 |
| Postcode(s) | 6383 |
| Elevation | 259 m (850 ft) |
| Area | 75.4 km2 (29.1 sq mi) |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Shire of Quairading |
| State electorate(s) | Central Wheatbelt |
| Federal division(s) | O'Connor |
Dangin is named after the nearby Dangin Spring, which is in turn thought to be an Australian Aboriginal place name meaning "place where the Djanja grows" – Djanja being a species of Hakea that grows in the area. The name was first recorded in 1863, as the name of the farm owned by Edward Read Parker, son of the first European settler in the region.
In about 1900, E. P. Parker's son Jonah, into whose hands the land had passed, began subdividing the property, to allow development of an unofficial townsite. While the town was formally gazetted in 1902, Jonah Parker owned all of the surrounding land and access to the town was limited. Initially, the sale of alcohol was prohibited, although hospitality was provided by a "temperance hotel".
By 1908, Quairading 7.7 km (4.8 mi.) east-north-east, had been connected by rail, and was gazetted as a townsite. Following the rail connection, facilities such as a conventional hotel were also constructed in Quairading. The newer town was also slightly closer to the water supply it shared with Dangin, at Toapin Weir.
By the early 21st century, only a handful of houses remained in Dangin. Quairading had long since taken over as the main local centre.