Community Meeting Thursday 19 February 2026 | 6:30pm | Elsie Austin Pavilion
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​The Mount Helena Residents and Ratepayers Progress Association (MHRRPA) was formed on 18 April 1905 as the Lion Mill Progress Association, giving residents a united voice in the development of their growing timber town. From its earliest years, the Association advocated for essential services, infrastructure, and community facilities.
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As the district evolved and was renamed Mount Helena in the 1924, the Association continued to play a central role in civic life, supporting improvements to roads, public spaces, recreation facilities, and community services. For more than 120 years, MHRRPA has remained a key link between residents, local authorities, and community groups.
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Today, the Association continues this tradition through heritage preservation, community events such as the biennial Whim Festival, local advocacy, and initiatives that strengthen Mount Helena’s sense of place and community spirit.
Lion Mill Progress Association. (1906, April 7). The Swan Express (Midland Junction, WA : 1900 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved June 7, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207334065
THE TIMBER BEGINNING
In April 1882, the area that would become Mount Helena emerged as a timber settlement, centred on a sawmill established by Abraham White. Known locally as White’s Mill, the operation supplied timber for sleepers for the Eastern Railway, as well as for prominent buildings including Charles Harper’s Guildford residence, Woodbridge, and the interior of St George’s Anglican Cathedral, Perth. Residual timber was sold locally as firewood.
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FROM WHITE’S MILL TO LION MILL
After White’s sawmill was abandoned in 1887, activity shifted to a nearby site. The mill was taken over by Adelaide timber merchant Richard Honey, and a new operation commenced under the name Lion Mill. In 1889, the Lion Jarrah Mill began producing dressed timber, including floorboards and early tongue-and-groove boards that did not require nails. From this point, the townsite of Lion Mill began to grow.
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A NEW NAME FOR A GROWING TOWN
In 1924, following a vote by residents led by the Lion Mill Progress Association, the town’s name was changed. The first proposed name, Hillcrest, was rejected due to duplication in New South Wales. The alternative, Mount Helena, was accepted, chosen for its pleasant sound, its reflection of the surrounding terrain, and the town’s central location within the Helena District.
LOST MUNDARING & SURROUNDINGS LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Mundaring's local history museum that gathers, preserves, showcases and interprets the Mundaring Hills history for the current and future generations. Working with local community groups, schools and locals to share local history. The Mundaring Travelling Museum, opened in March 2019, is home to permanent and temporary exhibitions regarding the Hills history.
0481 169 638 - lostmundaring@hotmail.com - Facebook @lostmundaring