Gibson, Western Australia

{{Short description|Town and locality in the Shire of Esperance, Western Australia}}

{{Infobox Australian place

| type = town

| name = Gibson

| state = wa

| image = Gibson Soak Hotel, January 2025 04.jpg

| caption = Gibson Soak Hotel, January 2025

| lga = Shire of Esperance

| postcode = 6448

| local_map = yes

| zoom = 9

| coordinates = {{coord|33|38|56|S|121|48|50|E|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_label_position = right

| pop =

| area = {{cvt |input=P2046}}

| est = 1921

| elevation= 218

| stategov = Roe

| fedgov = O'Connor

| dist1 = 719

| dir1 = ESE

| location1= Perth

| dist2 = 26

| dir2 = N

| location2= Esperance

| dist3 = 180

| dir3 = S

| location3= Norseman

| near-nw = Scaddan

| near-n = Scaddan

| near-ne = Neridup

| near-w = Dalyup

| near-e = Neridup

| near-sw = Dalyup

| near-s = Monjingup

| near-se = Myrup

}}

Gibson is a town and locality of the Shire of Esperance in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, about {{convert|22|km|mi}} north of Esperance. The Coolgardie–Esperance Highway and Kalgoorlie to Esperance railway the run through the locality from north to south. Esperance Airport and Helms Arboretum Reserve are located in the south-west of Gibson.{{cite web |url=https://maps.slip.wa.gov.au/landgate/locate/ |title=SLIP Map |author= |date= |website=maps.slip.wa.gov.au |publisher=Landgate |access-date=23 December 2024 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://nationalmap.gov.au/ |title=NationalMap |author= |date= |website=nationalmap.gov.au |publisher=Geoscience Australia |access-date=23 December 2024 |quote=}}

At the 2016 census, Gibson had a population of 449.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC50537 |name=Gibson (State Suburb) |accessdate=20 March 2018 |quick=on}}

History

The population of the area was 16 (7 males and 9 females) in 1898.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33153441 |title=Population of Western Australia |newspaper=Western Mail |location=Perth, Western Australia |date=22 April 1898 |access-date=31 May 2012 |page=23 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Gibson was originally proposed in about 1910 as a siding on the Esperance branch railway due to a reliable water source in the area, named by surveyor A. W. Canning after a man who discovered the soak whilst searching for stock. The railway itself was not completed until 1925, but the townsite was gazetted on 19 October 1921.Western Australian Government Gazette, file 2874/16, 19 October 1921, page 1921:1889.{{LandInfo WA|c|G|15 February 2011}}

Transport

It is served by a station on the Brookfield Rail network, and is also the site of the Esperance Airport. In 2009, a {{convert|1800|m|ft}} long crossing called by this name but located slightly away from the town was built.Railway Digest October 2009, p17

Parks and reserves

Esperance Bird & Animal Park is a small animal park located at Gibson{{cite web|url=http://www.esperancebirdandanimalparkcafe.com/location.html|title=Esperance Bird & Animal Park|access-date=2021-10-15}} and includes: cockatoos, parrots, macaws, eagles, emus, sheep, goats, highland cattle, horses, llamas, kangaroos, wallabies and foxes.

Helms Arboretum Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot and popular wedding venue, was severely damaged by fire in December 2024. The arboretum, home to more than 120 species of planted trees, has a size of {{convert|8|km2|mi2}}.{{cite news |last1=Delandgrafft |first1=Tara |last2=Smith |first2=Hayden |title=First day of summer bushfires damages iconic Helms Arboretum in WA |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-07/helms-arboretum-bushfire-biodiversity-hotspot-damaged/104690784 |work=ABC Esperance |location=Esperance |access-date=23 December 2024 |date=7 December 2024}}

References

Category:Shire of Esperance