Yanmah: A Group Settlement story

Yanmah and the Group Settlement

Yanmah tells a story of settlement closely connected with the Group Settlement Scheme and everyday agricultural life. The townsite was planned in 1922 as part of the scheme to meet the needs of settler groups; in January 1923, the townsite was officially gazetted. After the Group Settlement Scheme failed, the townsite did not develop beyond the community hall. Thus, a clearly dated planning start and limited subsequent development sit side by side—a helpful framework for understanding the local history.

One family’s story adds a concrete example to this overview: the Nicol family travelled via Manjimup to Group Settlement 19 in Yanmah in 1922. They initially grew tobacco and later kept dairy cattle. The same family’s story therefore encompasses two different agricultural activities; it also shows that Yanmah’s development consists of more than a settlement plan and an official date. The plan describes the settlement’s purpose, while the family story adds a specific account of arriving in the settlement and working there. Yanmah’s planning and the Nicol family’s arrival both took place in 1922.

Glenoran Hall and Yanmah Hall

Glenoran Hall (fmr), also known as Yanmah Hall, is on Mitcheldean Road in Yanmah. It was originally built as Glenoran Hall in the 1920s and subsequently relocated to Yanmah. The two names thus reflect its original name and its later connection with Yanmah. The hall is on private property and has been substantially altered from its original form and use. If you are considering a visit, check in advance. Its private location is therefore an important consideration in addition to its history.

Nature and culture at Manjimup Heritage Park

For a different focus, the 12-hectare Manjimup Heritage Park is located in the Yanmah area. It offers museums, natural bushland, heritage displays and walking trails. The museums and displays provide a cultural perspective, while the bushland and walking trails place greater emphasis on nature. If you include these offerings in your trip, the park can complement Yanmah’s settlement history with a different focus. This makes it possible to distinguish between the history of the townsite and a visit to a park in the surrounding area.

Plan your stay around your interests

If you are considering visiting the hall, which is on private property, check in advance whether visits are possible; the park also offers museums, displays, bushland and trails. This allows you to plan the historic connection with the town and an outing in the surrounding area as separate parts of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Karijini, Yallingup, Kings Park, Cable Beach, Woodanilling, Clackline, Cockburn Central, Baskerville

For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.