Wamenusking - Rabbit Proof Fence

The Rabbit Proof Fence

Ever since discovering the book and film “the rabbit proof fence “ I’ve made it one of our missions to find some part of it. If you don’t know the story you need to read or watch it , it opens up the box to the appalling treatment of Indigenous Australians by the Australian gruberment!
The film/book tells the true story of three aboriginal girls who are forcibly taken from their families in 1931 to be trained as domestic servants as part of an official Australian government policy. They make a daring escape and embark on an epic 1,500 mile journey to get back home - following the rabbit-proof fence that bisects the Australian continent

Heading to Wave rock and staying at Quairading overnight gave us the opportunity to track down part of THE No. 2 RABBIT PROOF FENCE.

The 'Longest Fence in the World' - the Rabbit Proof Fence of Western Australia.
Location: Wamenusking, Shire of Quairading, 180km south east of Perth.
We were standing here surrounded by some of the wheatbelt's most productive and fertile land and where at the site of a very important part of Western Australia's agricultural and engineering development.
A remarkable example of Aussie pioneering determination and spirit, the Rabbit Proof Fence was constructed by the Australian Government to halt an invasion of rabbits in plague proportions from the other side of the country.

RABBITS RUN RIOT
Rabbits were first introduced into Australia in 1859 by Victorian farmer, Thomas Austin.
He imported and released 24 rabbits from England on his property to breed for hunting.
By 1872 these rabbits had bred to plague proportions in eastern Australia, eating out crops and pasture.

Thirty five years after the initial rabbit release they had spread a distance of approximately 1300 miles ( 2093km ) on a direct course.
Despite officials poisoning an estimated 200,000 rabbits each night, the destructive furry wave seemed unstoppable as it rampaged westwards leaving behind a wasteland.
In 1901 a Royal Commission recommended a barrier be constructed across the country to divide pastoral land from the dry bush lands in the eastern part of Western Australia.
The idea for a Rabbit Proof Fence was sown.

The Fence was built in three stages.
The No. 1 Rabbit Proof Fence began construction in 1901 and extended 1,139 miles (1,822.4km) from Starvation Bay on the State's south coast to 80 Mile Beach at Wallal.
The No. 2 Rabbit Proof Fence was started in 1904 weaving its way 724 miles (1,158.4km) from Point Anne through Cunderdin, Yalgoo before connecting to Fence No. 1 at Gum Creek.
The No. 3 Rabbit Proof Fence commenced in 1906, and extended 160 miles (256km) between Yalgoo and the west coast south of Kalbarri.
The Rabbit Proof Fence, including No. 1, 2 and 3 fence lines was completed in 1907 and stretched 2,023 miles (3,236.8 kilometres) - four times longer than originally proposed.
The total cost of construction was 337,941 pounds ($675,882).

Traps were erected approximately 5 miles apart.
They were 12 feet long, 7 feet wide and 3 feet 6 inches high, and entirely enclosed in rabbit netting, including at the base.
A panel of the main fence formed one side of the trap.
At each end, and hard up against the main fence, wire netting funnels lead into the trap.
Leading out from the funnels at each end of the trap - and at 45 degrees angle to the main fence - were two wing fences, each 60 feet long.
The stray rabbits running along the fence would get caught in between the wing and the yard trap. They would move through the funnel of wire into the trap and couldn't escape.

THE No. 2 RABBIT PROOF FENCE
Even before its completion rabbits were past what existed of the No. 1 Rabbit Proof Fence.
In 1904 the rabbit invasion was a very real threat to the fertile Avon Valley. It was therefore decided to build an inner fence. Subsequently the No. 2 Rabbit Proof Fence - part of where we were standing - was commenced. The fence line was constructed north and south from Cunderdin.
Because rabbits were in numerous areas west of the No. 1 Fence, high priority was given to the erection of the No. 2 Fence.
An incredible effort by workers saw 724 miles of the No. 2 fence completed just four months after its commencement dateLæs mere