Cuballing

The area of the Shire of Cuballing was occupied for thousands of years by the Wilman people and contains many traditional names mainly referring to water and geographical features.  The Wilman are one of the fourteen dialectical groups of the Noongar aboriginal people of the south western region of Western Australia.

In 1835 Surveyor General John Septimus Roe passed to the west of what is now the Great Southern Highway and in the process named the Montague Hills.

Shepherds grazed flocks of sheep through the area seeking pastures and watering points from the 1840s and the sandlewood trade encouraged cutters to the region not long afterwards.      

The name Cuballing is taken from 'Cooballing Pool' which was documented on a lease application in 1868.

The Great Southern Railway was completed in 1889 and with this precious link to civilisation came the rush of settlers to places like Cuballing.

At this time it was hoped that Cuballing would be picked to become the rail centre, with hopes of expanding it into a large town. However in 1906 Narrogin was chosen mainly due to water being readily available. Once it became apparent that the railhead was to be established in Narrogin there was a steady decline in people coming to settle in the area. The Great Depression in the 1930's did not help in attracting people and many farming families found they had to leave their farms and seek a living elsewhere.

Cuballing History

1889	It is recorded that at this time there were eleven residences, including the hotel.
1895	The Cuballing School opened with an enrolment of 6 boys and 14 girls. The school reached a peak of 59 pupils in 1913, then closed due to lack of attendance in 1929.
1898	The original District Hall was replaced with a more substantial building of stone.
1903	The Cuballing Road Board was formed, holding its first meeting on the 24 January, 1903. The District Hall was used as their office.
1904	The Methodist Church was built.
1905	Slowly the town began to grow and more buildings were built.
1906	A grand dance and concert was held in April to celebrate the opening of the Popanyinning Hotel. The first Post Office served the district until some time after 1905, when a new brick building was erected. Records show that there were two butcher shops, the Cuballing Hall, Post Office, Cuballing Coffee Palace, WA Bank, National Australia Bank, two blacksmiths, Church of England, Methodist Church, a boarding house and the Hotel. All buildings at that time appear to have been made of bricks from the local firm of Davey Bros. Aldenga School opened with 12 pupils, and then closed in 1928. It was then reopened as Stratherne School and closed in 1936. The Popanyinning School opened in 1905 with 23 students and closed in 1973. Wardering School opened, then closed in 1911.
1907	Nebrikinning School opened and continued on until it closed in 1940.
1908	East Popanyinning School opened in the Church Hall and closed in 1913 due to low attendance. It was reopened in 1918, and in January 1938 the school was burnt down. The school was quickly replaced and reopened in April 1938, then finally closed in 1946.
1909	The Yornaning School opened, and maintained an average of 20 pupils until it closed in 1943.
1910	The West Popanyinning School began, but unfortunately closed in 1911. The school was then moved to a more central position and became the Lol Gray Soak School, which opened in 1912. The Woodlands School opened, and then closed in 1945.
1911	St. Peters Church of England was consecrated.
1912	The second level was added to the Hotel. The Lol Gray Soak School opened, then closed in 1936. It was relocated to Dryandra and reopened as Lol Gray School, then in 1940 the name was changed to Dryandra School, closing in 1950.
1921	A granite War Memorial was unveiled and still holds a place of importance in the Main Street.
1923	The Commodine School opened, and closed in 1934. It was reopened in 1935, then closed forever in February 1936.
1931	The Cuballing School reopened and continued to function until 1946, closing with 20 pupils.
1978	The Popanyinning Hotel burnt down in September and it has never been replaced.
1979	The new Shire Office was built, which left the Cuballing District Hall empty until in 1979 when the Cuballing Branch of CWA took over the building as their Centre.
1993	The old Post Office was closed and is now situated at the Roadhouse on the Great Southern Highway.
1998	Shire children travel to primary or high school by bus to either Narrogin or Pingelly. The town of Cuballing has a population of approximately 300, and the whole Shire is approximately 890. The Cuballing Hall has been re-painted inside and outside and restored to its original beauty.