Population 104 (2006 census) Postcode(s) 6490 Elevation 296 m Local time Friday 2:57 AM Lga Shire of Nungarin | Established 1943 State electorate(s) Central Wheatbelt Founded 1943 Postal code 6490 Federal division Division of Durack | |
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Location 303 km (188 mi) East of Perth
47 km (29 mi) NNE of Merredin Weather 26°C, Wind SE at 11 km/h, 47% Humidity | ||
Chandler is an abandoned townsite between Merredin and Mukinbudin in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia.
Map of Chandler WA 6490, Australia
In 1932, 30,000 emus migrated to the farm land around Chandler and nearby Walgoolan, ravaging crops and destroying fences. The Australian military was deployed to fight these emus at the request of the farmers, attempting to lower the population of emus with machine guns. The conflict was named the Emu War, and resulted with the failure of the Australian army.
Initially established to serve the nearby Alunite, a source of potash, mine at nearby Lake Campion, land was set aside in 1942 for a townsite. Lots were surveyed soon afterward and the town was gazetted in 1943. The mine was a state government project with government employees that was needed following the supplies of the mineral being cut off after the commencement of World War II. A potash works was erected in the town reserve in 1943.
Following the war, the government closed down the plant once supply of Alunite had normalised. The company, Australian Plaster Industries, then took up a lease in the area and in 1949 commenced production of gypsum that is used in the manufacture of plaster of paris and plasterboard. During that time, the town boomed and had two main streets, over 70 houses, a telephone exchange, a school and powerhouse. Production ceased in 1952; the entire town was sold off in 1953.
The name of the town was chosen to honour Mr J Chandler, a farmer, who had discovered the alunite deposits.