Page:Handbook of Western Australia.djvu/140

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122
Western Australia.

The Wellington district extends from Peel inlet to the Vasse. Sussex occupies the country between Geographe and Flinder's Bays, and Plantagenet that to the South of the Stirling range, the valleys of the Hay and Kalgan Rivers, and on the coast from Wilson's inlet, including King George's Sound, to Port Twopeople. Kent extends eastward to Doubtful Island Bay.

There are reserves for town sites in all the principal centres of population, except the Greenough, some of which contain, however, only a few houses. In 1876 there were 8 only with more than 50 houses, viz.:—

Perth Houses 801 Population 4606
Fremantle " 588 " 3303
Albany " 247 " 840
York " 139 " 820
Guildford " 106 " 518
Geraldton " 86 " 748
Newcastle " 57 " 215
Vasse " 51 " 219

Of these, Perth, the Capital and seat of Government, is the centre of trade for the Avon Valley and the Eastern Districts, the roads from which diverge at Guildford. Fremantle is the principal port of entry for the greater part of the trade of the Colony, although that for the North is gradually being transferred to Geraldton in Champion Bay. The population of Geraldton is rapidly increasing, in anticipation of the opening of the railroad from thence to Northampton. The Vasse is the outlet for the large surrounding agricultural and pastoral district as well as for the timber trade; it was formerly a favorite station for the deep sea whalers. Albany, the best port now in use in the Colony, is not only the centre of the trade and com-