# Merredin

Merredin is a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, with a population of 2604 in 2021. It's traditionally a stopping point between Perth and the Kalgoorlie gold mines, and had a gold rush itself in the 1880s / 90s. It was too dry for agriculture until a water-catchment was built on the nearby hill; it's nowadays a grain-producing area with huge grain silos by the railway tracks.

## Get in

Merredin is 261 km east of Perth and 333 km west of Kalgoorlie on Highway 94, the Great Eastern Highway.
Trains from Perth East and Midlands take 3 hr 30 min to Merredin, for a return fare of $51 in 2023. The Prospector runs M-Sa around 7AM from Perth to Toodyay, Northam, Merredin and Kalgoorlie (another 3 hr 30 min), plus an afternoon run M F Su. The Merredinlink runs M W F around 9AM to Toodyay, Northam and Merredin, heading back just after 1 PM. The Avonlink train doesn't come this far out.
-31.4826118.27721 Merredin railway station is central in town. It's just a platform halt.
Transwa buses don't run to Merredin.

## Get around

It's easy to walk around the town, although it can get hot.

## See

* Merredin Railway Museum, Great Eastern Highway (at railway station), ☏ +61 438 814 339. Daily 11AM-2PM. Local history museum depicting the railway history of Merredin. $15. (updated May 2023)
* -31.4835118.28021 Merredin Military Museum, Great Eastern Highway, ☏ +61 429 411 204. Daily 10AM-3PM. Great collection of memorabilia, uniforms, vehicles and equipment from WWI and subsequent wars. Adult $10, conc $7. (updated May 2023)

## Do

* Cummins Theatre, 31 Bates St (three blocks north of the railway station), ☏ +61 8 9041 3295 (box office). It's named for the brewer who had it built in 1928.
* Orana Cinema, 35 Barrack St (200 m west of the station).
* Nokaning Golf Course, 1614 Nangeenan North Rd (20 km northwest of town).
* Merredin Show. A funfair. The next is probably on Saturday 6 April 2024, tbc.

## Buy

* IGA is the town store, at 96 Barrack St opposite the railway station and open M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 9AM-5PM.
* Fuel: never run low on these long roads. The Roadhouse on Todd St by the Tourist Park is open daily 6AM-7PM.

## Eat

* Cafe 56, 56A Barrack St (next to Commercial Hotel), ☏ +61 8 9041 5000. M-F 6:30AM-2:30PM, Sa Su 7AM-3PM. Relaxing cafe for breakfast or lunch, but few vegan options. (updated May 2023)
* Merredin Pizza is at 19 Bates St behind the IGA, open daily 11:30AM-1:30PM, 3:30-8:30PM.
* Merredin Palace is a so-so Chinese on Mitchell St, corner with Bates St, open M-Sa 5PM-8PM.

## Drink

* Commercial Hotel is your best bet.

## Sleep

* Commercial Hotel, 62 Barrack St (facing station), ☏ +61 8 9041 4430. Comfy rooms in a colonial-style tavern, good food. (updated May 2023)
* -31.4826118.2681 Merredin Olympic Motel, 5 Great Eastern Hwy, ☏ +61 8 9041 1588. No great shakes to look at, but rooms are clean and comfy enough. Double (room only) $130. (updated May 2023)
* -31.4812118.26772 Merredin Motel, 30 / 34 Gamenya Ave, ☏ +61 8 9041 1886. Smart friendly motel, good place to break a trip. With Gumtree Restaurant on site. Double (room only) $160. (updated May 2023)
* -31.4842118.28663 Merredin Plaza, 149 Great Eastern Highway, ☏ +61 8 9041 1755. Value for money motel, spacious rooms, cleaning erratic. Double (room only) $140. (updated May 2023)
* -31.4851118.29184 Merredin Tourist Park, 2 Oat St, ☏ +61 8 9041 1535. Well-run site for campervans or caravans. Hookup $35, double room $120. (updated May 2023)

## Connect

As of May 2023, Merredin and the nearby stretches of the Great Eastern Highway have 4G from Optus, a poor patchy signal from Telstra, and nothing from Vodafone. 5G has not reached this area.

## Go next

* Northam west is the main town on the road west before you reach Perth.
* Hyden to the south is near Wave Rock.
* Kalgoorlie away east is a gold-mining city.