View source for Yarloop, Western Australia

{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type     = town
| name     = Yarloop
| state    = wa
| image    = Yarloop Town Hall, October 2020 04.jpg
| caption  = The Yarloop Town Hall, mostly destroyed by the 2016 fire, but since rebuilt
| local_map   = yes
| zoom        = 10
| lga      = Shire of Harvey
| coordinates = {{coord|32.955|S|115.90|E|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| postcode = 6218
| pop               = <!--leave blank to draw the latest automatically from Wikidata-->
| area     = {{cvt |input=P2046}}
| est      = 1894
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Murray-Wellington|Murray-Wellington]]
| fedgov   = [[Division of Forrest|Forrest]]
| dist1    = 129
| location1= [[Perth]]
| dist2    = 18
| location2= [[Harvey, Western Australia|Harvey]]
|elevation=23.4|elevation_footnotes=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=561&op=1741&cmd=sp&d=faq&c=1&x=115%2E89693&y=%2D32%2E95372&w=40000&mpsec=0|title=Frequently asked questions about Yarloop, WA|work=Bonzle|access-date=2021-03-26}}{{better source needed|date=October 2021}}</ref>}}

'''Yarloop'''  is a town in the [[South West (Western Australia)|South West]] of [[Western Australia]] along the [[South Western Highway]], between [[Waroona, Western Australia|Waroona]] and [[Harvey, Western Australia|Harvey]]. At the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Yarloop had a population of 395.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC51658?opendocument|title=2016 Census QuickStats: Yarloop|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|website=quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au|access-date=2019-06-02|archive-date=2 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602082911/https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC51658%3Fopendocument|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 7&nbsp;January 2016 a bushfire destroyed most of the town.<ref name="bbc-massive" />

==History==
The name Yarloop is said to have originated from the words "yard loop", the rail loop into the timber yard there. However, the name is more likely [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal]] in origin (most likely from the local [[Pindjarup|Bindjareb]] [[Noongar]] people). Yalup Brook is situated about {{cvt|5|km}} north of Yarloop and there is similarity in pronunciation of the word, and the early spelling variations of the siding (Yailoup and Yarloup) support it being Aboriginal.<ref name="Landinfo"/>

In 1849, Joseph Logue arrived in the area and farmed at nearby [[Cookernup, Western Australia|Cookernup]]. He was followed by {{thinspace|W.|J.}} Eastcott, who used to collect [[river red gum]] bark and pit-sawn timber for other settlers, and John Bancells in 1886.

In 1894, Charles and Edwin Millar moved into the district looking to put nearby stands of [[Eucalyptus marginata|jarrah]] to use{{snd}}they had exported jarrah blocks to London for use in street paving. They soon established their {{convert|300|acre|km2|adj=on}} timber town with accommodation and support facilities, located {{cvt|2|km}} south of a government-surveyed town site as the company wished to maintain effective control over staff and workmen. However, not everyone working at the mill wanted to live in the facilities, so a company town on the eastern side of the railway and a public town on the western side developed. A [[rail siding|siding]] on the Perth-Bunbury Railway came into being in 1896.

In 1901, they made Yarloop the centre of their operations, and the town became even more important when in 1905 they closed their [[Denmark, Western Australia|Denmark]] mills on the south coast. At their peak, they employed over 500 people in the Yarloop area. By the 1930s, they boasted the largest private railway in the world with eight railway systems and 25 locomotives. The timber mill, originally known as the [[Wagerup, Western Australia|Waigerup]] mill, still operates and in 1984 the mill town was classified as a conservation area by the [[National Trust of Australia|National Trust]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.australiaforeveryone.com.au/wa/yarloop.htm |title=Yarloop |publisher=Australia for everyone |access-date=8 January 2016}}{{better source needed|date=October 2021}}</ref> and is now protected by the Yarloop Conservation Plan (1998) administered by the Heritage Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/western-australia/yarloop/2005/02/17/1108500208775.html|title=Yarloop|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 February 2004|access-date=2006-10-06}}</ref>

The town was [[gazetted]] in 1962.<ref name="Landinfo">{{LandInfo WA|c|Y|2007-04-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harvey.wa.gov.au/yarloop |title=Local Towns – Yarloop |access-date=2006-10-06 |publisher=Shire of Harvey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720210817/http://www.harvey.wa.gov.au/yarloop |archive-date=20 July 2011 }}</ref>

==Modern era==
Yarloop became home to citrus growers, dairy farmers, vegetable growers and commuters. Until the [[Bushfires in Australia|bushfire]] of 2016, the town centre included many restored timber buildings along with the historical [[Yarloop Workshops|steam workshops]]. The workshops had many operating steam engines along with displays of the equipment used to maintain 25 steam locos and the timber production of millers. There is a heritage trail around the old mill town and conservation area. Facilities included a primary school, local shop, bowling club, hotel, post office, community centre and various types of accommodation.

A notable issue in the town was alleged emissions from the [[Alcoa]] [[alumina]] refinery at nearby [[Wagerup, Western Australia|Wagerup]]. For years, some residents have reported illnesses such as respiratory irritation, frequent blood noses, headaches, nausea and cancer, as reported in numerous media outlets, including the ''[[Four Corners (Australian TV program)|Four Corners]]'' program "Something in the Air",<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 October 2005 |title=Something in the Air|url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2005/s1473699.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818211154/http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2005/s1473699.htm` |archive-date=18 August 2014 |access-date=8 January 2016 |website=Four Corners |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> although no formal causal link has ever been established. These claims are also disputed by a large section of the local population. Alcoa subsequently obtained permission (September 2006) to double the size of the refinery to become the biggest such refinery in the world, although very strict conditions have been imposed on the expansion by the Health and Environment departments. A minority of the residents announced plans to fight the decision in the [[Supreme Court of Western Australia|Supreme Court]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/hamel-cookernup-and-yarloop-in-the-firing-line/story-e6frg13u-1111112189592 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813085805/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/hamel-cookernup-and-yarloop-in-the-firing-line/story-e6frg13u-1111112189592 |archive-date=13 August 2011 |title=Hamel, Cookernup and Yarloop in the firing line|last=Flint|first=John |date=8 September 2006|access-date=5 October 2006 | work=The Sunday Times |via=perthnow.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,20410784-948,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909092239/http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,20410784-948,00.html |archive-date=9 September 2012 |title=Alcoa to be biggest in world |date=15 September 2006 |publisher=News.com.au }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-09-15/protesters-plan-to-lodge-supreme-court-writ-over/1264590 |title=Protesters plan to lodge Supreme Court writ over Alcoa smelter |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=15 September 2006 |access-date=9 January 2015}}</ref>

===2016 bushfire===
[[File:Waroona fire 2016 gnangarra 230116-115.JPG|thumb|left|South Western Highway and Johnson Road entrance to Yarloop after the fires]]
{{see also|2015–16 Australian bushfire season#Western Australia}}{{see also|2016 Waroona bushfire|}}On 7 January 2016, 121 homes<ref name="WA Today revised">{{cite news |url=http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/emergency-fire-warning-for-waroona-and-preston-beach-20160106-gm0r5l.html| title=WA fires: Emergency warning for Harvey, Waroona, Hamel, Cookernup and Yarloop |work=WA Today |date=9 January 2016 |access-date=9 January 2016}}</ref> were destroyed by a massive bushfire.<ref name=bbc-massive/> Over a seven-minute period, the fire also burned the [[Yarloop Workshops|historic timber workshops]], factories, an old church, the old hospital, shops, the hotel, fire station and a part of the school.<ref name="hia17">{{Cite news |last=Hiatt |first=Bethany |date=28 January 2017 |title=Yarloop kids happy to return to school |work=The West Australian |location=Perth, Western Australia |url=https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/yarloop-kids-happy-to-return-to-school-ng-b88364280z |access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> Local politician [[Murray Cowper]], observing soon afterwards that the town now looked "very surreal",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-08/yarloop-destroyed-by-fire/7077232 |title=WA fire: Yarloop local MLA Murray Cowper describes 'very surreal' scene, estimates 80pc of homes lost |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=8 January 2016 |access-date=8 January 2016}}</ref> said: "This could well be the end of the town."<ref name=bbc-massive>{{cite news|title=Massive bushfire destroys Western Australia town|publisher=BBC News |date=8 January 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-35258692|access-date=8 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-08/yarloop-bushfire-almost-100-homes-lost/7075404 |title=WA fire: Yarloop devastated by bushfire with 95 homes lost, three people missing now found |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=8 January 2016|access-date=8 January 2016}}</ref> Those visiting the town after the fire described the level of destruction as "apocalyptic".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-09/live-wa-bushfire-threatens-several-south-west-towns/7078766 |title=Live: WA bushfire threatens several towns, residents warned to evacuate |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=9 January 2016 |access-date= 9 January 2016}}</ref> However, Western Australia's Premier [[Colin Barnett]] said that the town would be rebuilt, and a majority of residents voted in favour of rebuilding.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-35271307 |title=Australia bushfire: Two killed as blaze rages unabated |publisher=BBC News |date=9 January 2016 |access-date=9 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Croy|first1=Liam|title=Forrest offers help to get town rebuilt|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/30603468/forrest-offers-help-to-get-town-rebuilt/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127171621/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/30603468/forrest-offers-help-to-get-town-rebuilt/|archive-date=27 January 2016|website=The West Australian|publisher=Seven West Media|access-date=21 January 2016}}</ref> On 9 January the remains of two men were found in burnt-out houses.<ref name="WA Today revised"/>

Public access to Yarloop was restored on 11 August 2016, seven months after the fire, when roadblocks were removed.<ref name="abc-reopen">{{cite news |last1=Stewart|first1=Anthony |title=Roads into Yarloop reopen seven months after historic settlement destroyed by bushfire |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-12/roads-into-yarloop-reopen/7730934 |access-date=12 August 2016 |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=12 August 2016}}</ref>

===Rebuilding===
A new community centre was built, incorporating the facade of the original town hall, and opened in November 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-22/yarloop-rebuilding-after-devastating-bushfires/11730556|title=Rising from the ashes, Yarloop bounces back after devastating bushfires in 2016|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|first1=Laura|last1=Birch|first2=Jacqueline|last2=Lynch|first3=Holly|last3=Ferguson|date=22 November 2019|access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:Yarloop railway station, October 2020 01.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Yarloop railway station]]
Yarloop is situated on the [[South Western Railway, Western Australia|South Western Railway]], and is a stopping place for the ''[[Australind (train)|Australind]]'' passenger train from [[Perth]] to [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transwa Train Timetables |url=https://transwa.wa.gov.au/tickets-times/train-timetables |access-date=2021-10-27 |website=Transwa.wa.gov.au|publisher=Public Transport Authority of Western Australia}}</ref>

{{Adjacent stations|system=Transwa
|line1=Australind|left1=Waroona|right1=Cookernup
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.harvey.wa.gov.au/files/2016/05/map-9-2015.pdf Map of Yarloop] (Shire of Harvey)
*[https://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/30516096/aerial-footage-shows-scale-of-wa-bushfire/#page1 Aerial footage] of Yarloop on the morning of 8 January 2016
*[http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2894047-Report-of-the-Special-Inquiry-Into-the-January.html#document/p1 "Reframing Rural Fire Management": Report of the Special Inquiry Into the January 2016 Waroona Fire] WA Government-Waroona Fire Special Enquiry. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016–via www.documentcloud.org. 
{{Towns South West WA}}
{{Shire of Harvey towns}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Shire of Harvey]]
[[Category:Timber towns in Western Australia]]
[[Category:Bushfire affected towns in Western Australia]]