From the Rabbit-Proof Fence to a Wildlife Sanctuary: Discovering Narembeen

In true Unshackled Adventures style, what started as a simple trip to get a wheel alignment turned into a wonderful few days of exploring Western Australia's Wheatbelt, uncovering some fascinating history, meeting friendly locals and discovering a very special wildlife sanctuary.

Our day began with Jen behind the wheel of eLCie, although that didn't last long! After about an hour, Mr Unshackled decided he'd had enough of being a passenger and was itching to take over. With the car booked in for a wheel alignment in Merredin at 1.30 pm, we had a mission to complete, but that certainly wasn't going to stop us from taking a few detours along the way.

After all, it's not the destination that matters, it's what you discover along the way!

Campion and Australia's famous Emu War

Our first stop was the old townsite of Campion, where we stumbled across a fascinating piece of Australian history.

Back in 1932, Western Australia found itself in the middle of what became known as the infamous Emu War. Following complaints from farmers about emus destroying crops, Australian soldiers were sent in to help reduce their numbers.

Armed with machine guns, the military operation proved far less successful than expected. The emus were surprisingly difficult to control, and the operation was eventually abandoned.

And the winner? You guessed it — the emus!

Who would have thought Australia had once declared war on a giant bird? There wasn't an emu in sight during our visit, but it certainly gave us a story to tell!

Hunting down the original Rabbit-Proof Fence

Our next discovery came courtesy of WikiCamps. We realised we were close to the Rabbit-Proof Fence, so naturally, we had to investigate.

Following the Rabbit-Proof Fence Road, we eventually found a section of the original fence. There it was, still standing after all these years, with its wire buried firmly into the ground.

We couldn't help wondering whether it would actually keep any rabbits out these days!

The rabbit plagues of the early 1900s were devastating for Western Australian farmers, with rabbits multiplying in enormous numbers and causing widespread damage to crops and grazing land.

Construction of the original State Barrier Fence system began in 1901, with the main fence completed in 1907. The wider system was designed to stretch thousands of kilometres across Western Australia, helping protect agricultural land from rabbits and other introduced animals.

We also discovered that managing the fence is a serious business. Landholders whose properties are crossed by the barrier must comply with access and maintenance requirements, including provisions for authorised inspections and firebreaks.

It was another unexpected piece of history, and one we might never have found if we hadn't followed our curiosity.

With the fence discovery ticked off, we continued towards Merredin to get that wheel alignment sorted before heading further into the Wheatbelt.

Welcome to Narembeen

Our next destination was the charming township of Narembeen, around three hours east of Perth, in the heart of Western Australia's agricultural region.

This town had already caught our attention after meeting some wonderful, community-minded locals at a previous campsite. Their enthusiasm for their home town and a very special wildlife sanctuary had us keen to see it for ourselves.

We settled into the local caravan park, paying around $30 a night for a powered site. With only a handful of powered sites and very few other campers around, it was a peaceful place to set up and explore.

After checking out the local information board, we headed into town to see what Narembeen had to offer.

A town built around a pub

One of our first stops was the Narembeen Hotel, and here's a fun fact: this pub was actually the beginning of the town itself!

Pioneers Hale, Latham and Savage had initially hoped to establish a hotel near Emu Hill, but when permission was denied, they purchased land near a railway siding instead.

The hotel became Narembeen's first permanent building, and its construction helped spark the surveying and development of the townsite that grew around it.

It's always fascinating to discover how some of these country towns began. In this case, it all started with a pub!

Old machinery and a whole lot of character

We couldn't pass up a visit to the Narembeen Machinery Museum. For anyone who appreciates old machinery, this place is well worth a look.

There were vintage tractors, old bulldog-style John Deere machines, ancient fuel bowsers and plenty of equipment that reminded us just how different farming life once was.

Some of those wheels were enormous! You certainly wouldn't want to get in their way.

From the machinery museum, we continued exploring the town's civic precinct, where history and community creativity come together.

One of our favourite discoveries was an incredible sculpture of a draught horse, created from recycled metal collected from around the district.

Commissioned by the Shire of Narembeen in 2016, the sculpture was created by local artist Jordan Sprig as part of the Lesser Hall interpretation project.

The horse represents a scene from the past, waiting for its owner outside the Lesser Hall after an event. Back in the early 1900s, draught horses were essential for heavy farm work and everyday transport, even taking children to and from school.

Look closely and you'll discover all sorts of recycled treasures worked into the sculpture, from tools, chains and cogs to metal components that form its body, feet and tail.

What a clever way to preserve a little of the district's history while celebrating local creativity!

We also spotted a beautiful clock built by the Lions Club, featuring an old Sonic Boom spray unit. It's amazing what you can create when a community puts its mind to something.

Second-hand treasures, friendly faces and pastoral history

No visit to Narembeen would be complete without popping into Dorpier's second-hand clothing store.

We'd heard that people travel from far and wide to visit this place in search of a bargain, so naturally, we had to have a look.

It's always lovely to discover small-town businesses that have become attractions in their own right, bringing visitors into the community and giving pre-loved clothing a second chance.

After a wander around town, we stopped for something to eat at a local café. The friendly welcome we received was another reminder of why we love exploring these smaller communities.

There's something special about country towns where people take the time to stop for a chat and share their local knowledge.

Before leaving town, we also visited the Narembeen Grain Discovery Centre, located within the roadhouse. This community-driven initiative tells the story of Western Australia's grain industry, following the journey from paddock to plate.

Agriculture is the backbone of this region, and the centre provides a great insight into the work, history and innovation behind the industry that continues to shape the Wheatbelt.

A very special place: Wadderin Wildlife Sanctuary

After spending a few days exploring Narembeen, it was time to head approximately 7.5 kilometres north to one of the main reasons we'd come to the area — Wadderin Wildlife Sanctuary.

We set up camp near the day visitor area, where basic bush camping is available, with an eco toilet conveniently nearby.

The visitor area includes an information pavilion showcasing the area's history, seasonal wildflowers and the native animals that call this special place home. Walking trails also provide opportunities to explore the landscape and discover remnants of the early settlement.

But the real excitement was knowing that we were about to discover what makes Wadderin so remarkable.

From a pioneering settlement to a conservation haven

Before Wadderin became a wildlife sanctuary, this area was home to a pioneering farming community.

Settlers arrived before the First World War, establishing sheep farms and cereal crops. In 1917, the railway reached the area, bringing an important railway siding and helping support the growing community.

Water, however, was always a challenge.

During the 1920s, the Public Works Department constructed a dam to capture and store water from the surrounding granite rock. Officially opened in 1928, the dam became an important water supply for the district, including Narembeen.

Standing there today, it's fascinating to see the channels cut into the rock and imagine the effort involved in designing and constructing this water collection system so many decades ago.

The area once included a school, houses and other signs of settlement, but as the old community faded, the land eventually took on a very different purpose.

Today, its greatest contribution is helping protect some of Western Australia's most threatened native wildlife.

Meeting the people behind the sanctuary

We were incredibly fortunate to be given a special guided tour of the sanctuary, by one of the dedicated volunteers who generously gives his time to help establish and maintain this remarkable place.

His knowledge, stories and passion made the experience even more special. It's one thing to read about a conservation project, but quite another to meet the people who put in the hours to make it happen.

And at Wadderin, the work is ongoing.

The sanctuary covers approximately 430 hectares and is protected by an impressive nine-kilometre predator-proof fence. This safe environment allows threatened native animals to be reintroduced and given the opportunity to thrive.

Among the species protected here are the red-tailed phascogale, woylie or brush-tailed bettong, banded hare-wallaby, common brushtail possum and southern brown bandicoot.

These are animals that have suffered from habitat loss and introduced predators, making protected areas such as Wadderin incredibly important for their future.

An unforgettable wildlife encounter

One of the highlights of our visit was learning how the sanctuary's guided wildlife tours operate.

During the tour, volunteers place small amounts of grain at strategic locations to encourage animals to emerge along the tracks. This gives visitors a much better chance of seeing the wildlife in its natural surroundings.

It's a clever approach, and it means visitors can experience the sanctuary without needing to wander through the bush hoping for a glimpse of something.

We were absolutely delighted to see some of these beautiful little creatures up close. Watching them go about their business, completely absorbed in their own little world, was a real treat.

It's hard not to fall in love with these tiny survivors when you get the opportunity to see them at such close range.

The sanctuary's wildlife tours are generally held on Saturday evenings, with bookings available online. The tours operate on a donation basis, helping support the ongoing work of this volunteer-run conservation project.

We believe a donation is well worthwhile. The opportunity to see these animals and learn about the work being done to protect them is something special.

Just remember to check the sanctuary's current tour arrangements before visiting, as bookings and tour availability may vary.

Why you should put Narembeen on your Wheatbelt itinerary

Our visit to Narembeen was a wonderful reminder that some of the best travel experiences happen when you venture away from the main tourist routes.

If you're travelling through the Wheatbelt, we'd encourage you to put Narembeen on your itinerary and allow yourself a little time to explore.

And please, make sure Wadderin Wildlife Sanctuary is on your must-visit list. It's a special place doing important work, and supporting it helps ensure these incredible native animals have a future.

** Tip: For the best viewing experience, click the YouTube link in the bottom left corner of the video to watch in higher clarity