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Our History.

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The Ratepayers Association...

Originally established by the community of Lion Mill (now Mount Helena), on the 18th April, 1905, MHRRPA still is committed to "promoting active participation from local residences in our initiative of making the Mt Helena Community, and neighbourhood a better place to live and grow."

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 Milling Town..

“Mount Helena” is the fourth name of this area since European settlement.

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The first name that appears on record is “Marionvale” which was given as the residential address of Abraham White (who set up the first sawmill) in his death notice in the West Australian in 1885.

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The area then became known as “Whites Mill” until his sawmill closed. The next sawmill venture was known as Lion Mill.

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However in the 1924 the name changed again following a vote by residents.

The prime mover in the quest for a new name was the local Progress Association whose first choice, "Hillcrest" had been rejected by the authorities because of a duplication in New South Wales.

 

The next suggestion, "Mount Helena" was more successful and had been chosen as a euphonious name, indicative of the terrain and because the suburb was situated centrally in the Helena District.

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Abraham White is our original pioneer and his body rests somewhere in the East Perth Pioneers Cemetery.

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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 - Find us on Facebook

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What is a Whim?

The Whim was used for log haulage in the early days of the South-west timber industry including the Perth Hills.
 
The whim axle was manoeuvred midway over a felled log. With the aid of a swampers spoon, the chain was passed under the lof and hooked onto the axle. The whim beam, as a lever, was pulled down using horses and secured to the log, thus raising the axle and the log for easier haulage. A team of eight horses then hauled the raised log to the steam saw mill. The whim revolutionised the early timber industry and was used until the advent of motorised tractors.


The whim has been honoured and recognised by the Mount Helena Residents and Ratepayers Progress Association as a part of their logo and name of our biannual 'Whim' Festival.

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Photo: BULLOCK TEAM; LION MILL, MT HELENA, c.1882 - 1898 - Shire of Toodyay’s photographic collection

Join our mailing list

PO Box 156 Mount Helena

WA 6082

mthelenaratepayers@yahoo.com

 

or President, Joan -

bronxwa@yahoo.com

 

Facebook @mthelena

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Contact Us.

Useful Contacts

Emergencies - 000

​Police (not an emergency) - 131 444
Crime Stoppers - 1800 333 000

Volunteer Fire Brigade - 9572 1414

Mundaring Police Station - 9290 1900

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Shire of Mundaring - 9290 6666

Visitors Centre - 9290 6645

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Shire Councillors (East Ward)

Cr John Daw - 0437 997 325

Cr Neridah Zlatnik - 0438 943 782

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Shire President

Paige McNeil -0414 799 659

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Copyright 2021 - 2025 - Mount Helena Residents & Ratepayers Association, PO Box 156 Mount Helena WA 6082

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