Great Southern Highway

Great Southern Highway – York

Canola fields are vibrant, golden landscapes of canola plants, a major oilseed crop, famous for their stunning yellow blooms in spring (August-September in Australia) that attract photographers, especially around areas like York, WA, but entering private fields is often illegal.

The oil is used for cooking, biodiesel, and stockfeed, making these fields a beautiful yet productive part of agriculture. 

We can see them in Avon Valley: Near York, Northam, Toodyay, and Chittering Valley.

York- Canola Fields

The best time to go is in Spring: Mid-August to mid-September, but timing depends on rainfall and seasonal conditions.

They create vast “carpets of gold” across the countryside when they flower.

York

York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia, situated on the Avon River, 98 kilometres (61 mi) east of Perth in the Wheatbelt, on Ballardong Nyoongar land, and is the seat of the Shire of York.

The name of the region was suggested by JS Clarkson during an expedition in October 1830 because of its similarity to his own county in England, Yorkshire.

After thousands of years of occupation by Ballardong Nyoongar people, the area was first settled by Europeans in 1831, two years after Perth was settled in 1829.

York Town Hall is a heritage listed town hall in York, Western Australia, located in Avon Terrace. At the time of its construction, it was claimed to be the largest public hall in Western Australia, with an interior floor space measuring 100 by 50 feet (30 m × 15 m).

Constructed in 1911, it is an example of Edwardian opulence. Architecturally, while it may be considered to be in Federation Free Classical style,with its “spectacular potpouri of architectural styles” and its “soaring columns topped with a decorative pediment and above the main entrance, a high semi-circular window in Romanesque manner”, its features are so exaggerated that it is more in Victorian Mannerist style.

It was designed to be large enough to generate income from renting the hall to travelling picture-show men and was utilised as a picture show venue early in its history.

It was designed to be large enough to generate income from renting the hall to travelling picture-show men and was utilised as a picture show venue early in its history.

In the 2000s it was refurbished and renovated, and the stage was renovated in 2019.