THE Central South Region is an area of infinite variety, with gentle, undulating hills thickly wooded with wandoo, gums and a host of other native trees, wide expanses of ripening wheat and dramatic outcrops and breakaways silhouetted against the sky.

In the wheatlands, the rich soil is seeded after the May rains. Furrows lie straight and true towards the horizon. By July, young shoots transform the soil into a green carpet and the crop grows higher with each passing day. With Spring, the area is ablaze with wildflowers, transforming the landscape with vibrant colours. Later, from mid-November, the ripe golden heads of wheat, barley and oats are harvested.

The region's climate is Mediterranean, or warm temperate, characterised by mild wet winters and hot dry summers. Rainfall declines from west to east, while evaporation tends to increase from south to north. The average rainfall for the year is approximately 450mm with average temperatures ranging from roughly 16 degrees C during the coldest months to an average high of 34-36 degrees C in summer.

The Shire of Wickepin is the watershed of the region. It is where the Avon, Blackwood, and Murray Rivers rise. Further west, the Bannister, Hotham and Williams Rivers join the Murray, one of the South-West's major rivers. Both the Swan and Avon Rivers find their source from creeks in the Wickepin area and from Lake Yealering in the central part of the region.

Spectacular natural features. Most famous of these is Wave Rock, a huge rock formation 2700 million years old, near Hyden, in the Shire of Kondinin. Lake Dumbleyung is the largest permanent natural stretch of water in Western Australia and an important wildlife sanctuary and recreational area. West of Cuballing is the Dryandra State Forest, a 27,000-hectare ecological oasis serving a natural wildlife refuge. There are numerous other lakes and wildlife reserves which have been developed throughout the region.

The region has been extensively cleared for timber milling and, importantly, cereal and sheep farming. While manufacturing activity is minimal, adequate land zoned for industrial purposes is available in most Local Government Authorities.

The first European settlement: Brookton was first settled in 1846. Large-scale development started in the early 1860's, with a few large pastoral leaseholders grazing sheep. In the 1880's, the Great Southern Land Company finished the rail link between Perth and Albany. This was the impetus for the establishment of Narrogin, approximately the mid point of the line.

The period since the 1900's has been characterised by growth and consolidation of the region's agricultural base. Today, tourists are well catered for with excellent hotels, motels, caravan parks and service stations in most towns. Medical services are available throughout the area.

The principal towns in the Avon Valley are Northam as the regional centre, with Toodyay to the north-west and York and Beverley to the south.

Not only does the Avon Valley have many buildings of historic interest, but this area just over the Darling Ranges has many activities for the young and energetic. Activities vary from a casual ride on a camel to the Spencers Brook Tavem to soaring aloft in a hot-air balloon.

The Avon Valley has a host of interesting features, so don't delay your visit. Come along for the day, or book in for an action-packed Avon Valley holiday.

Toodyay, situated 91 kilometres northeast of Perth, is ideally located for a day or weekend visit and is well worth the drive through the picturesque Avon Valley.

The present townsite is not the one first selected as the centre of the district. Originally, a town was formed about three miles from Newcastle and to this the name of the district was given - Toodyay. Place of Plenty.

The original name given to the place by Aborigines was 'duidgee', meaning 'place of plenty", referring to the good supply of water and game. However, due to continuous floodings and the construction at Newcastle of a main road to Perth, it was found necessary in 1864 to move the town, site to where modem Toodyay stands today, and the old township, now known as West Toodyay, was practically abandoned.

Later, in 1877, Newcastle was declared a municipality and then in 1877, a Roads Board, which it remained until 1920, when it was officially changed to Toodyay Roads Board, mainly to avoid constant confusion with Newcastle in New South Wales.

Northam, the largest town in the Avon Valley, is the Valley's commercial centre and adventure playground. Northam is busiest on the first weekend of August every year, when hundreds of intrepid power boaters, and then of thousands of canoeists and spectators flock to the town for the start of the Avon Descent, a white-water classic that is of world wide fame.

Getting to Northam is easy - by car, private bus, or by rail on Westrail's Prospector. Once there, you can choose from many distinctive ways to see the town and its surrounds; by aeroplane, hot-air balloon, bicycle, bushwalking, camel or canoe.

Flying fun: For an unforgettable aerial experience, hot-air balloon flights and light aircraft joy flights are available from Northam Aerodrome. For those who prefer being closer to the ground they may like to hire a bicycle or follow the heritage trail of Northam's old buildings. For the ultimate outback style trip try trekking by camel from the Blue Gum Camel Farm along bush trails - and park your camel at a local tavern while you lunch!

Gold Fever: From Northam's humble beginnings in 1836 it became the jumping off point in the 1890's for prospectors pursuing their dreams of fabulous wealth in the goldfields. Thousands of diggers flocked to Northam to stock up for the 450km trek - usually on foot - across the searing outback. Now, Northam is the centre for the Central Agricultural District of Western Australia. It is the largest agricultural township in the state and the second largest inland town.

Northam has much to offer. Many buildings give the appearance and character of the last century. The Shamrock Hotel dates from1866. The Flour Mill, built in 1871 and still operating, supplies flour to Mauritius and some Arab states. Byfield House (1898), Avon Valley Arts Society - located in what was once the Old Girls School (1877) and the Old Post Office (1892).

Morby Cottage, a simple mud house with verandah, built in 1836 by Northam's first settler, John Morrell, was the first European building in the area. It served as Northam's first school and church. Near Northam, the once bustling settlement of Irishtown now comprises only of the original Catholic Church and hall, and, a short distance away is the luxurious two-storey Buckland Homestead, built in 1874 and credited as being WA's most stately home.
Northam Camp School - situated in 500 acres of undulating uncleared countryside where sheep graze under giant York Gum and Jam Trees. This exciting camp offers the perfect outdoor country holiday. Includes 4km of good bitumen road within the farm boundaries suitable for bike riding, jogging or walking. There are bush walks for enthusiasts and great opportunities for birdwatching. A nine-hole par 3 sand green golf course crisscrosses Aggett Brook. There are lawns, shady Pine trees and a swimming pool as well.

Beverley, standing on the banks of the meandering Avon River, is situated at the southern end of the picturesque Avon Valley, 132 kilometres from Perth. The town was founded in 1838 and named Beverley by Charles Simmons, Colonial Surgeon, after Beverley in Yorkshire, England. One of the first land assignments was to Governor James Stirling, RN, and Captain Mark Currie, RN, in 1832.

Beverley Aeronautical Museum is situated in Vincent Street, opposite the Beverley' Shire Office. It was built in 1967 to house the "Silver Centenary", a bi-plane built by Selby Ford in 1930 - the first privately built aircraft in Western Australia, which was flown to Perth by Captain Nesbit. Amy Johnson and Major De Haviland inspected the aircraft at Maylands Aerodrome. A recent addition to the museum is a replica of the "Flying Flea", an ultra-light aircraft of French design, built by John Cork and given to the museum for display. These machines, plus a collection of aircraft, engines, parts and numerous photographs, present a fairly complete picture of the early days of flying in Western Australia.

Yenyenning Lakes are situated 36 kilometres south-east of Beverley, this is a popular site for skiing, motor boating, yachting and swimming. In spring, kangaroo paws, wild orchids, everlastings and shrubs flower in profusion. Country Peak is located approximately 35 kilometres south-east of Beverley and is possibly of volcanic origin. The hill rises 362 metres at the summit and is a popular scenic and picnic area.   

York is Western Australia's oldest inland town and one of its most charming. Set on the Avon River in a fertile open valley it is a blend of colonial and Victorian architecture dating back to the earliest days of the colony. First Settled 1830 It was first settled in 1830 and supplied much needed grain and sheep to Perth. While farms sprang up the town itself was tiny consisting of five houses, a barn and a barracks. Labour shortage was a problem and convicts were imported who built most of the public buildings you can still visit and the road that led to Perth making it a lot easier to transport the farm produce to the capital - previously this had been mainly done by river, which at times could be hazardous. This road also helped spread the growth of the town, making it easier for agricultural machinery and the basic material needs of a growing community to be brought in.

The discovery of gold in 1889 in nearby Yilgarn rapidly increased the growth of York. Diggers travelled form Perth on the new train, outfitted themselves for the digging at York and headed off on the three day trek for the fields. When the rail extended to Northam, York was by-passed and settled down to become the peaceful country town you can visit today.

The buildings of York are of great interest. The two major hotels are rich in history. The Castle Hotel, York's first licensed hotel and one of the State's oldest, was first in business in 1842. It has been luxuriously renovated and extended with fine restaurants and accommodation and is a handsome example of the town's early architecture.

The Settlers House was originally a two storey mud-brick ho-use built around 1853 and later housed Western Australia's first newspaper the 'York Chronicle'. It is now a first class modem hotel with all the charm of the carefully preserved and extended original architecture, with an elegant dining room that is well-known throughout Western Australia.

Balladong Farm. WA's oldest inland farm which is now a working museum. Settled in 1830 it includes an original brick grannery, giant stone stables, a shearing shed and a butcher's shop. You can see traditional farming methods such as horse-ploughing and blade sheep shearing still being practised.

Faversham House is one of the finest colonial mansions in the State. Originally built in 1831 it was extended to a two-storey home in the 1850's. The owners were sandalwood-getters - the sandalwood industry was one of the main sources of income in the early days of the colony and for a long time was WA's biggest export, especially to South East Asia.

The York Motor Museum is a fine example of late Victorian ostentatious architecture adding a colourful dash to the main street. With classic pavement petrol pumps, the Museum has a handsome and varied collection of antique and vintage cars, motorcycles and horse-drawn vehicles. The Police Station, Post Office and Court House are an attractive complex of buildings, built in the late nineteenth century, of golden coloured stonework. The gaol in the Police Station undoubtedly housed boisterous gold miners from time to time. A visit to this complex makes it easy to imagine the feelings of the period.