CBH grain receival points (also known as the bins or wheat bins in local popular usage) are grain silos spread around Western Australia, primarily in the wheatbelt region. Historically they have been linked with the wheatbelt railway lines, and the transport of grain to ports for export.
The range of available bins or grain silos have taken on identity as large public art works in the 2010s in the Public Silo Trail, [1] with three sections[ citation needed ] to the trail identified: [2] [3]
The earlier bins were made at the time of the change from wheat transport in bags, to bulk operations – and at the time of the creation of the CBH Group in 1933. [4]
The first five bins or grain receival points were located at Western Australian Government Railways sidings at: [5]
Due to their size, many of the storage bins were significant landmarks on the landscape in the agricultural communities of Western Australia. [6] [7] [8]
In 2012, the Australian federal government deregulated the grain market in Australia. [9]
In 2013, after 80 years of operation without competition, grain storage and transport in the Great Southern region has another operator due to a separate grain operation at Albany. [10] [11] [12] [13]
In earlier years the districts in the CBH system were known as "Directors" Districts. [14] [15]
By 2011, the Western Australian wheatbelt operations of CBH was split up into 12 management zone areas, with a set of locations in each zone with management offices, port terminals, and transfer depots identified.
The Geraldton Port zone is served by two areas – one based in Geraldton, and the second based in Morawa.
The primary receival sites for this zone are:
The secondary receival sites for this zone are:
The closed receival sites for this zone are:-
Historically, in this area there were also 1933 [16] installation receival points at:
Most grain receival points in the wheatbelt have combinations of historic structures that are still utilised, and new structures. Where the older structures tend to be next to, or aligned with the railway lines where they were built, many sites have extended grounds. As a consequence, identifying the types of silo/containers at some sites may uncover up to three or four different structures at the one location. Brookton for example has at least three different types present on the CBH property.
Total numbers of receival points in the system from the founding in 1932 to 1999 – the peak number occurring in 1965-1967: [18]
The Wheatbelt is one of nine regions of Western Australia defined as administrative areas for the state's regional development, and a vernacular term for the area converted to agriculture during colonisation. It partially surrounds the Perth metropolitan area, extending north from Perth to the Mid West region, and east to the Goldfields–Esperance region. It is bordered to the south by the South West and Great Southern regions, and to the west by the Indian Ocean, the Perth metropolitan area, and the Peel region. Altogether, it has an area of 154,862 square kilometres (59,793 sq mi).
Morawa is a town in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It is located within the Shire of Morawa, approximately 370 kilometres (230 mi) north of the state capital Perth, on the railway line between Wongan Hills and Mullewa.
Corrigin is a town in the central Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 229 kilometres (142 mi) east-southeast of the state capital, Perth, Western Australia, along State Route 40. It is mostly a farming community focused on crops and sheep, and holds the world record of "the most dogs in a ute".
Mullewa is a town in the Mid West region of Western Australia, 450 kilometres (280 mi) north of Perth and 98 kilometres (61 mi) east-northeast of Geraldton. Mullewa is well known for an abundance of wildflowers in spring and it is one of the few places in Western Australia that the wreath flower grows. The surrounding areas produce wheat and other cereal crops. The town is a receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling.
Perenjori is a townsite in the northern agricultural region, 348 kilometres (216 mi) north of Perth and 39 kilometres (24 mi) south-east of Morawa. It is located on the Wongan Hills to Mullewa railway line which was opened in 1915. Perenjori was approved as the name of a siding in April 1913, and later that year the government decided to establish a townsite there. Perenjori townsite was gazetted in 1916.
Burracoppin is a townsite on the Great Eastern Highway, east of Merredin in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia.
Wubin is located in the northern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 272 kilometres (169 mi) north-northeast of Perth and 21 kilometres (13 mi) north of Dalwallinu.
Bruce Rock is a town in the eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately 243 kilometres (151 mi) east of Perth and 48 kilometres (30 mi) southwest of Merredin. It is the main town in the Shire of Bruce Rock.
Trayning is a town in the north-eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 236 kilometres (147 mi) east of the state capital, Perth, on the Nungarin–Wyalkatchem Road. At the 2006 census, Trayning had a population of 122.
Miling is a small town in the Shire of Moora, 200 kilometres (124 mi) north of Perth, Western Australia. At the 2021 census, it had a population of 101.
Gutha is a townsite in the Mid West region of Western Australia, 32 kilometres (20 mi) north of Morawa.
The CBH Group, is a grain growers' cooperative that handles, markets and processes grain from the wheatbelt of Western Australia.
Pindar is a small town in the Mid West Region of Western Australia. It is located about 30 km east of Mullewa in the local government area of the City of Greater Geraldton.
Pithara is a small town in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It is located about 240 km north of Perth, in the Shire of Dalwallinu. At the 2011 census, Pithara had a population of 257, a 25% fall from the previous 2006 census.
Bowgada is a small town in Western Australia located on the Mullewa Wubin Road 366 kilometres (227 mi) north of Perth in the Mid West region.
Pintharuka is an abandoned townsite in the Mid West region of Western Australia. The town is located between the towns of Morawa and Mullewa on the Mullewa-Wubin Road
Canna is a small town in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It is located between the towns of Morawa and Mullewa on the Mullewa-Wubin Road. At the 2006 census, Canna had a population of 81.
The wheatbelt railway lines of Western Australia were, in most cases, a network of railway lines in Western Australia that primarily served the Wheatbelt region.
Grain storage structures - also known as bins or wheat bins in local popular usage - are grain silos spread around Western Australia, primarily in the wheatbelt region, at grain receival locations.
Western Australian Government Railways railway system during its peak operational time in the 1930s to 1950s was a large system of over 6,400 kilometres (4,000 mi) of railway line.