About the Shire

Welcome to the Shire of Northam

Just over an hour from Perth through the Great Eastern Highway, Northam is the perfect base for exploring the scenic Avon Valley.

Have a walk through town and admire its architecture, along the way, you’ll find great craft shops options, and plenty of places to pause for coffee, alfresco lunches, and dining experiences.

The Avon River winds gently through the Shire of Northam, an ideal setting for a riverside picnic. Keep an eye out for the white swans that have called the river home for over a century, or take in the view from the iconic pedestrian suspension bridge that crosses the water.

Looking for adventure? Northam has you covered. Try your hand at hot air ballooning, horse riding, or hiking.

Want to learn more about the area? Check our visitors webpage or stop by our visitor centre.

Here's a quick snapshot of the Shire of Northam.

Some History

Northam is the regional service centre of the Avon Valley and Central Wheatbelt. Farming communities (which primarily produce wheat, barley, oats, sheep, wool and cattle) use Northam for their everyday banking, retail, shopping and government servicing requirements.

The town has been established by the State Government as a regional centre, resulting in many government departments maintaining a strong presence.

The Northam townsite was first gazetted in 1836 and is the focal point for important rail and road links to Eastern Australia. It was a centre for Post-War migration and many of the residents have strong links to Eastern Europe. The Mundaring to Kalgoorlie pipeline passes through Northam, and the townsite has a significant number of heritage buildings.

History of Place Names

Other localities within the Shire of Northam include Bakers Hill, Clackline, Grass Valley, Spencers Brook, Seabrook and Wundowie, and more information on these towns and exploring the Shire of Northam can be found on the Towns section of this website.

Discover the origins of some of these localities names that make up the great Shire of Northam.