Wheatbelt (Western Australia)

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Wheatbelt (Western Australia)

The Wheatbelt is one of Western Australia’s nine regional areas. It’s a large farming region that grew from farmland development after European settlement.

Location and size
- The Wheatbelt surrounds much of the Perth area and stretches north toward the Mid West and east toward the Goldfields–Esperance region.
- It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west, the South West and Great Southern regions to the south, and by the Mid West and Goldfields–Esperance to the east.
- The region covers about 154,862 square kilometres (around 60,000 square miles).

Population and local government
- About 75,000 people live in the Wheatbelt, making up roughly 3% of Western Australia’s population.
- There are 42 local government areas (shires) in the Wheatbelt.

Ecosystems and environment
- The Wheatbelt once had a diverse natural system with many plant and animal species.
- Clearing for agriculture reduced some ecosystems, and the region now contains about 11% of Australia’s critically endangered plants.
- It is home to nationaly threatened birds such as Carnaby’s black cockatoo and the malleefowl.
- The area includes several subdivisions used for planning and conservation, such as Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, and Mallee, among others.

Industry and economy
- The coast gets more rainfall and has a long, 150-kilometre coastline that attracts tourists.
- The eastern part of the Wheatbelt is drier and mainly used for pastoral farming (sheep).
- Mining for gold, nickel, and iron ore occurs in some parts.
- Most of the region’s land is very good for farming. The Wheatbelt produces about two-thirds of Western Australia’s wheat, about half of its wool, and large amounts of lamb and mutton, oranges, honey, cut flowers, and other farm products.

Change and development
- The region faces population changes and some communities have declined. Governments work to create jobs and opportunities to keep people in the Wheatbelt.
- Local museums and community groups document and share the region’s history and changes.

Sub-regions and administration
- The Wheatbelt Development Commission divides the area into five sub-regions: Avon, Central Coast, Central Midlands, Central East, and Wheatbelt South, with offices in several towns.
- Many towns and shires are part of these sub-regions, and some areas are marketed as part of broader tourism regions.

Transport and connectivity
- A network of roads links towns in the Wheatbelt to Perth and to other regions.
- The old Wheatbelt railway system still supports grain transport, with grain sent from local silos to ports for export.

Tourism and regional designations
- Much of the Wheatbelt is included in Australia’s Golden Outback for tourism, while some nearby shires are promoted with different regional branding.
- The region includes popular coastal and inland destinations and is known for its landscapes, wildlife, and agricultural heritage.

See also
- Wheatbelt (Australia)

This version keeps the core facts in plain language, focusing on where the Wheatbelt is, its people, environment, economy, and regional structure.