The Shire of Wandering is celebrating its 150th anniversary this spring with a planned weekend celebration featuring a dinner dance, old-fashioned games and fireworks.
The small farming community is located 120 km southeast of Perth and a 50-minute drive from Armadale along the Albany Highway.
Organizers encourage all past and present residents, as well as anyone with any other connection to the city, to participate.
Wandering was discovered in 1859 by members of the George Stedman Watts family when they saw the horses of their lost wagon team grazing in the lush grass surrounding a freshwater spring known to this day as Horse Well.
In 1861, the oldest property, “Grassdale” (located on the southeast entrance to the city), was selected and is still owned by the Watts family today.
The village was named “Wandering” to commemorate the first sighting of wandering cattle. In October 1874, the Wandering Roads Board was formed.
To celebrate the Wandering Roads Board’s 150th anniversary, the event begins with a dinner dance at the town’s community centre on Friday 13 September.
On Saturday, the entire Wandering area comes alive with historic buildings to visit and displays on history, families, businesses, sporting and community groups from the past and present.
Wandering Primary School is celebrating its 100th anniversary and will also open its doors to the public on Saturday morning.
On this day, old-fashioned games are played on the Wandering oval, including a 100-yard “step-out”, last played at the Wandering 125th Celebrations in 1999.
The “Wandering Gift” is also held; the last time it took place was at the Wandering 100th Celebrations in 1974.
To celebrate Wandering’s 150th anniversary, there will be a cake cutting and a live band will play throughout Saturday afternoon, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display.
Saturday’s events are family friendly, but the Friday night dinner dance is an 18+ event.
Tickets for the dinner dance are available through Eventbrite or Wandering Shire and cost $75.
For those wishing to stay overnight in Wandering, there is a caravan park in the town with both powered and unpowered pitches. There are also accommodation options in the surrounding towns.
The Wandering 150th Anniversary Committee is calling on former residents and businesses to contribute their stories to the historical exhibitions.
Anyone wishing to contribute a history plaque should contact the Wandering Community Resource Centre on 6828 1820.