Merredin
Merredin is a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, with a population of 2604 in 2021. It's traditionally a stopping point between Perth and the Kalgoorlie gold mines, and had a gold rush itself in the 1880s / 90s. It was too dry for agriculture until a water-catchment was built on the nearby hill; it's nowadays a grain-producing area with huge grain silos by the railway tracks.
Get in
Merredin is 261 km east of Perth and 333 km west of Kalgoorlie on Highway 94, the Great Eastern Highway.
Trains from Perth East and Midlands take 3 hr 30 min to Merredin, for a return fare of $51 in 2023. The Prospector runs M-Sa around 7AM from Perth to Toodyay, Northam, Merredin and Kalgoorlie (another 3 hr 30 min), plus an afternoon run M F Su. The Merredinlink runs M W F around 9AM to Toodyay, Northam and Merredin, heading back just after 1 PM. The Avonlink train doesn't come this far out.
🌍 Merredin railway station is central in town. It's just a platform halt.
Transwa buses don't run to Merredin.
Get around
It's easy to walk around the town, although it can get hot.
See
- Merredin Railway Museum, Great Eastern Highway (at railway station), ☏ +61 438 814 339. Daily 11AM-2PM. Local history museum depicting the railway history of Merredin. $15.
- 🌍 Merredin Military Museum, Great Eastern Highway, ☏ +61 429 411 204. Daily 10AM-3PM. Great collection of memorabilia, uniforms, vehicles and equipment from WWI and subsequent wars. Adult $10, conc $7.
Do
- Cummins Theatre, 31 Bates St (three blocks north of the railway station), ☏ +61 8 9041 3295 (box office). It's named for the brewer who had it built in 1928.
- Orana Cinema, 35 Barrack St (200 m west of the station).
- Nokaning Golf Course, 1614 Nangeenan North Rd (20 km northwest of town).
- Merredin Show. A funfair. The next is probably on Saturday 6 April 2024, tbc.
Buy
- IGA is the town store, at 96 Barrack St opposite the railway station and open M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 9AM-5PM.
- Fuel: never run low on these long roads. The Roadhouse on Todd St by the Tourist Park is open daily 6AM-7PM.
Eat
- Cafe 56, 56A Barrack St (next to Commercial Hotel), ☏ +61 8 9041 5000. M-F 6:30AM-2:30PM, Sa Su 7AM-3PM. Relaxing cafe for breakfast or lunch, but few vegan options.
- Merredin Pizza is at 19 Bates St behind the IGA, open daily 11:30AM-1:30PM, 3:30-8:30PM.
- Merredin Palace is a so-so Chinese on Mitchell St, corner with Bates St, open M-Sa 5PM-8PM.
Drink
- Commercial Hotel is your best bet.
Sleep
- Commercial Hotel, 62 Barrack St (facing station), ☏ +61 8 9041 4430. Comfy rooms in a colonial-style tavern, good food.
- 🌍 Merredin Olympic Motel, 5 Great Eastern Hwy, ☏ +61 8 9041 1588. No great shakes to look at, but rooms are clean and comfy enough. Double (room only) $130.
- 🌍 Merredin Motel, 30 / 34 Gamenya Ave, ☏ +61 8 9041 1886. Smart friendly motel, good place to break a trip. With Gumtree Restaurant on site. Double (room only) $160.
- 🌍 Merredin Plaza, 149 Great Eastern Highway, ☏ +61 8 9041 1755. Value for money motel, spacious rooms, cleaning erratic. Double (room only) $140.
- 🌍 Merredin Tourist Park, 2 Oat St, ☏ +61 8 9041 1535. Well-run site for campervans or caravans. Hookup $35, double room $120.
Connect
As of May 2023, Merredin and the nearby stretches of the Great Eastern Highway have 4G from Optus, a poor patchy signal from Telstra, and nothing from Vodafone. 5G has not reached this area.
Go next
- Northam west is the main town on the road west before you reach Perth.
- Hyden to the south is near Wave Rock.
- Kalgoorlie away east is a gold-mining city.
| Routes through Merredin |
| Perth ← Midland ← | W E | → Southern Cross → Kalgoorlie |