Mullewa

Situated a six hour drive north of Perth or a one hour drive inland from Geraldton, Mullewa sits in the heart of the wildflower area of Western Australia. The town is known as the gateway to the vast pastoral and mining areas and is well known for its beautiful church, designed and built by priest architect Monsignor John Hawes.

The area around Mullewa was first settled in the 1850s and the shire was declared in 1861. Named, after the local Aboriginal word for 'swan' (there is a suggestion that the Aborigines named a local spring Mullewa, sometimes spelt Mullawah - alternative meanings also include 'rain', 'a land of plenty', and 'a place of fog'), the town reached its nadir in the 1890s when it became an important stopover point between Geraldton and the Murchison goldfields.

Celebrating the enormous contribution architect-priest John Hawes made to the region, the Monsignor Hawes Heritage Trail highlights fifteen buildings of his design and other sites significant to his life.

In harmony with the landscape, his building style is easily recognisable and provides a rewarding and inspiring travel experience.

Taking you through the scenic Murchison region, including Yalgoo, Tardun, Morawa, Perenjori, Northampton, Nanson and Geraldton, this self drive tour takes about four days to complete.

Self drives take in special features such as the Coalseam National Park with its magnificent views of the Irwin River and the fascinating Bindoo Hill, an excellent reminder of the glaciers which once covered this region.

This heritage trail follows the route first gazetted in 1905, commencing at the mouth of the de Grey River and finishing at Mullewa.

The trail takes in three of the southern-most government wells and a natural watering hole, Hughie Rocks.

Mullewa is famous for its spectacular wildflower season, including carpets of flowers usually blooming from July to late September, and in particular, the wreath flower (Leschenaultia macrantha).

The Mullewa Annual Wildflower Show is generally held every year in the last week of August at the Mullewa Town Hall.

The town has basic hotel and motel accommodation, a modern caravan park, nearby station stay and the historic Pindar Pub, now a bed and breakfast establishment. The Tourist Information Centre is open from February to December and also open weekends during wildflower season.

Mullewa Accommodation