Quairading

The town was named for Quairading Spring, derived from a local Aboriginal word recorded in 1872 by surveyor Alexander Forrest. The first European settler in the area is believed to be Stephen Parker, who settled in nearby York. Many settlers took up the offer and moved into the area between 1903 and 1908. The area was rocked by an earthquake in April 2009; the epicentre was located approximately northwest of the town. The earthquake that measured 3.2 on the Richter Scale happened at 4:50am local time caused no damage. ==Railway==

The railway through Quairading began as the York to Greenhills line (about a sixth the length of the whole line), and this was later extended to Quairading and onward to Bruce Rock. Construction began in 1897. The decision to close this half of the line was politically contentious, with Brookfield Rail taking pains to point out that it was not politics that forced the closure, and community groups (such as the Wheatbelt Rail Retention Alliance) campaigning against it. ==Demographics==

In the , Quairading had 596 residents, with 18.1% Indigenous residents, compared with 2.3% Indigenous persons Australia-wide. The median age of residents was 49 years, compared to the national median age of 37. The religious affiliation of residents was Anglican 31.4%, Catholic 19.3%, no religion 16.1%, Uniting Church 12.9% and Pentecostal 1.8%. The percentage of people identifying themselves as Anglican (31.4%) was significantly higher than the Australia-wide average of 18.7%. 90.4% of residents were Australian citizens, with English the language spoken at home by 95.6% persons, compared to the national average of 78.5%. The most common occupations were labourers 18.4%, managers 17.0%, technicians and trades workers 15.7%, machinery operators and drivers 10.8%, and sales workers 10.3%. The major industries were farming of sheep, beef cattle and grain 14.8%, local government administration 10.3%, school education 8.5%, wholesaling of specialised industrial machinery and equipment 4.9%, and retailing of fuel 4.9%. The median household weekly income was , compared to $1,027 nationally. ==Amenities and facilities==

The Pink Lake of Quairading which lies east of Quairading on the Bruce Rock Road at Badjaling, with the road traversing it. It is regarded as a phenomenon, as certain times in the year one side has a distinctive pink colour whilst the other side remains its natural blue. A local tourist attraction is the Quairading Nature Reserve, of native bushland west of the town along the railway line to York. The reserve contains York gum, salmon gum, wandoo and casuarina trees, and wildlife including the eastern wallaroo, western grey kangaroo, echidnas, reptiles and birds. Nookaminnie Rock, which is a large granite rock, provides a view over the town and surrounding areas. The townsite can also be viewed from Mount Stirling, northeast of Quairading. The wood sculptures are now on display in the Old Railway Station Info Centre and is open every weekday morning by volunteers. Toapin Weir, northwest of the town, was constructed in 1912 to collect rainwater runoff and irrigate the nearby farms; it has barbeque, picnic and camping facilities. The town has a library, located at Quairading Bookpost, a very popular Community Resource Centre and a number of small parks, including a memorial rose garden, and a public swimming pool. The Greater Sports Ground is home to football, hockey, cricket and netball. == Badjaling Community ==

The Badjaling Mission reserve, located east of Quairding, established in 1933 for the United Aborigines Mission, encompassed the area initially comprising all the land within Department of Environment and Conservation Reserve 23758. Serving as the camping ground and residence for approximately 30 Nyungar families from 1887 until 1954, the reserve held significant cultural importance, having been utilized by local Nyungar communities for traditional hunting, food gathering, and camping prior to colonization, owing to its abundant freshwater sources. Despite the official relocation of residents to Quairading Reserve in 1954 following the mission's closure, Nyungar people intermittently continued to camp in the area. In 1980, there was a formal return of Nyungar people to the Reserve, with current housing infrastructure established in 1998. ==See also==