Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of the Gingin area were the Yued Noongar Aboriginal people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from the 1830s when the area was first explored, with land used mainly for farming. Population was minimal until the 1860s when the townsite of Gingin was established. Some growth took place from the late 1800s into the early 1900s, spurred by the opening of the railway line from Gingin to Geraldton in 1891. The population of the Shire reached nearly 700 in 1911. The most significant development occurred from the 1960s, with the population growing from under 800 in 1961 to about 1,200 in 1971. More rapid growth took place from the 1970s, with the population rising to about 1,900 in 1981 and then to about 2,600 in 1991. The population continued to increase from the 1990s, rising to about 4,500 in 2011, as new dwellings were added and dwelling occupancy rates increased. Growth is expected to continue.

Land use

The Shire of Gingin is predominantly rural, with small, growing townships at Gingin, Guilderton, Lancelin, Ledge Point and Seabird. The Shire encompasses a total land area of about 3,200 square kilometres. Rural land is used largely for agriculture, particularly cattle and sheep grazing, and horticulture, with some viticulture. Tourism is also an important industry, particularly in the coastal areas.

Transport

The Shire of Gingin is served by the Brand Highway, Lancelin Road and Wanneroo Road.

Major features

• Major features of the Shire include Moore River National Park,
• Boonanarring Nature Reserve,
• Nilgen Nature Reserve,
• Yeal Nature Reserve,
• Lancelin Sand Dunes,
• Guilderton Sunken Pinnacles,
• various beaches,
• Gravity Discovery Centre,
• several wineries,
• Gingin Aquatic Centre,
• Gingin Brook and the Moore River.

Included areas