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Nature

In Northam we’re blessed with an abundance of beautiful scenery that you can explore on your visit. Located just an hour’s drive east of Perth is the picturesque Avon Valley a colourful patchwork of gently rolling hills and winding streams set the backdrop for peaceful drives and countryside getaways. The Avon Valley is a perfect destination for a day trip from Perth or for a weekend getaway in WA.

Reserves provide you with the chance to view the region’s unique flora and fauna, with spring being the best time to view wildflowers- don’t miss the opportunity to take in the beautiful vistas from the Mt Ommanney Lookout, situated just outside the Northam townsite.

Wildflowers

The Avon Valley has an abundance of wildflowers to discover as you explore.

 

Common wildflowers found in the Shire of Northam

  • Everlastings
  • Various Orchids
  • Fringed Lilies
  • Blue Leschenaultia
  • Blue/ Purple Dampiera
  • Kangaroo Paw
Where to find them
  •  Clackline Reserve

From the Great Eastern Highway (heading towards Perth), turn right onto Refractory Road, and follow this until the end, where you will turn left. Follow this road around, and you will see the Clackline Reserve. Clackline also has a number of other walk trails (including the popular Flora Trail) which can be accessed by starting at Lion Park (Spencers Brook Road). Also look out for Bobakine reserve nearby.

  •  Woondowing Nature Reserve

From the Great Eastern Highway (heading towards Perth), turn right onto Coates Road (after you pass through Bakers Hill). Follow this road around, until you reach Sims Road, where you should turn right. Follow Sims Road along, and you will see the nature reserve area on your right-hand side.

The Shire of Northam also has an abundance of beautiful canola fields during canola season. Each year, many people travel to the Avon Valley to get the perfect photo with these stunning crops, but like other cereal crops Canola is an income source for local farmers. When entering the field, you not only trample the crop, you create a bio-security risk including potential spread of disease and cross contamination of seeds and other pests.

We love to see your photos from outside of the fence lines, but if you’d like to get in among the canola, there are a number of specially-grown crops in the Avon Valley for this very purpose. 

Parks & BBQ Areas

There are many beautiful parks and BBQ areas in Northam to relax and take in the view.

NORTHAM

  • Bernard Park, Minson Avenue
  • Apex Park, Broome Terrace
  • Northam Youth Space & BBQ area
  • Northam Aquatic Centre

 BAKERS HILL

  • Bakers Hill Memorial Park
  • Hooper Park

 CLACKLINE

  • Lion Park
  • Eadine Springs

 WUNDOWIE

  • Wundowie Skate park
  • Wundowie Campground

Walk, Ride, Hike Trails 

  • Kep Track 
  • Clackline Walk Trails (The Lion Loop, Nannamullen Brook Trail, Warranine Homestead Trail, Clackline Brook Flora Trail)
  • Avon River Circuit
  • Historical Walk Trails
  • Mt Ommanney
  • Dorntij Koorliny Track
  • Burlong Pool - Check out this guide for more information 

Please call into the Shire of Northam Visitor Centre for more information on trails within the shire. 

 

White Swans

History

British colonists first introduced White Swans to Western Australia in 1896. Shortly afterwards in the early 1900's, Northam's Mayor, Oscar Bernard (a Jewish Russian settler) brought swans to Northam, which over time happened to be the only place in Australia that the species survived, and it is to this day the only place in Australia that they will breed naturally in the wild. There were at one point around 80 swans on the Avon River, but today that number is considerably lower. Care has been taken to protect the remaining birds, and the last few years have seen a number of new cygnets on the river.

The White Swan became a protected species in 1950 under the Department of CALM Wildlife Conservation Act. This means it is illegal to remove a White Swan from the wild, keep a swan as a pet, or release a swan into the wild without the appropriate license. The swan is a protected species and in Northam they are cared and watched over by our local Shire Rangers.

Our swans do get their required amount of food, and it is not actively advised to touch or feed them. A swan’s digestive system and nutritional requirements are very different to ours, and in addition to negatively affecting the local river ecosystem, feeding the swans harmful human foods can also make them ill and put them at risk during certain times of the year when they require a specific diet.

However, if you are going to offer them food, see the tips below on what’s good (and not so good) for our feathered friends.

 

GOOD FOODS

  • shredded lettuce
  • silver beet
  • corn (off the cob or canned)
  • peas
  • grated carrot
  • chopped broccoli
  • cut seedless grapes

 

WHAT OUR SWANS CAN’T EAT

  • bread (especially bread with mould- this can kill them)
  • baked goods
  • grains of any kind

If you’d like any more information on our white swans, pop into the Northam Visitor Centre (open 7 days 9am-4pm, except major public holidays), where you can also buy a bag of swan food for a gold coin donation.

Looking for the Swans but can’t spot them? Head town to the Swan Enclosure (at the Peel Terrace end of Bernard Park, or down river towards Burlong Pool- they may have ventured outside of the Town Pool. Please do not disturb the swans, or enter their habitat.