View source for Ajana

{{for|the Ajana clan|Rabari#Clans}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = town
| name     = Ajana
| state    = wa
| image    = Warribano Chimney - panoramio.jpg
| caption  = Warribano Chimney
| lga      = [[Shire of Northampton]]
| local_map   = yes
| zoom        = 9
| coordinates = {{coord|27.951516|S|114.637724|E|display=inline,title}}
| postcode = 6532
| est      = 1915
| pop               = <!--leave blank to draw the latest automatically from Wikidata-->
| area                     = {{cvt |input=P2046}}
| elevation= 202
| maxtemp  =
| mintemp  =
| rainfall =
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Moore|Moore]]
| fedgov   = [[Division of Durack|Durack]]
| dist1    = 531
| dir1     = north-northwest
| location1= [[Perth]]
| dist2    = 45
| dir2     = north
| location2= [[Northampton, Western Australia|Northampton]]
| dist3    = 54
| dir3     = south-southeast
| location3= [[Kalbarri, Western Australia|Kalbarri]]
}}
'''Ajana''' is a townsite within the [[Shire of Northampton]] in [[Western Australia]]. It is located at the junction of Ajana-Kalbarri Road and Ajana Back Road, {{convert|53|km|mi|0}} by road north of [[Northampton, Western Australia|Northampton]], {{Convert|61|km|mi}} by road southwest of [[Kalbarri, Western Australia|Kalbarri]], and {{convert|531|km|mi|0}} west-northwest of [[Perth]] in the [[Mid West (Western Australia)|Mid West]] region.
The name ''Ajana'' is [[Australian Aborigines|Aboriginal]] in origin and is thought to be either the [[Nhanda language|Nanda]] name for the area or to be derived from a similar word meaning "mine".<ref name=lg>{{Cite web |url= http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+country+town+names |title= Landgate > History of country town names |work= landgate.wa.gov.au |accessdate= 28 March 2010 |archive-date= 19 May 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090519025355/http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History%2Bof%2BCountry%2BTown%2BNames |url-status= dead }}</ref>
== History ==
Ajana was the terminus of an extension to the first [[Western Australian Government Railways|government railway]] line in Western Australia. The line originally ran from [[Northampton, Western Australia|Northampton]] to [[Geraldton, Western Australia|Geraldton]]; it was extended to Ajana to encourage the development of [[galena|lead]] [[Mining in Western Australia|mining]] and agriculture in the area.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kennedy|first=Jane|title=WA's railway heritage breathes new life|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2011/03/10/3160515.htm?site=wheatbelt|work=ABC Mid West & Wheatbelt|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=10 March 2011}}</ref> The station opened on 6 January 1913,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79945575 |title=A new railway |newspaper=[[Daily News (Perth, Western Australia)|The Daily News]] |location=Perth, WA  |date=10 March 1913 |accessdate=26 May 2012 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and the townsite was declared on 26 November 1915.<ref>{{LandInfo WA|c|A|30 September 2008}}</ref> The railway terminated at the [[Rabbit-proof fence|No 3 Rabbit Proof Fence]], which ran through the townsite.<ref>{{cite web |title=Townsite of Ajana |url=https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b1847639_1 |publisher=Department of Lands & Surveys |access-date=3 February 2022 |location=Perth, WA |date=13 November 1915}}</ref>
A [[Telegraphy|telegraph station]], built in 1845 at nearby Mount View Station, provided early communications for the town.<ref name="westnet">{{cite web|url=http://members.westnet.com.au/caladenia/ghosttowns/A.pdf|title=Morowa Historical Society - Ghost towns of Western Australia|year=2000|accessdate=7 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312055856/http://members.westnet.com.au/caladenia/ghosttowns/A.pdf|archive-date=12 March 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> A [[post office]] was established in 1922, and a school was built in the town in 1944.<ref name="westnet"/> The railway line and Ajana station closed on 29 April 1957.<ref>''Rails to Ajana'' Milne, Rod [[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]], February, 2001 pp. 45–53</ref><ref>{{Citation| author1=Taylor, Mary | author2=Tower, Alfred |author3=Northampton Friends of the Railway Inc|title=The first government railway 1879-1957 and beyond: Geraldton-Northampton-Ajana|publication-date=2008|publisher=Mary Taylor| url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/27332224 | accessdate=26 May 2012 }}</ref>
== Barrel Well Aboriginal Community ==
The Barrel Well Aboriginal Community is located {{convert|3.7|km|mi|0}} west-southwest of the Ajana townsite, on Warribanno Chimney Road. It sits on Victoria Location 11991, within the registered [[Nanda people|Nanda People]] (WAD6136/98) [[Native Title Act 1993|native title]] claim area, and has a population of 26, including 10 children.<ref name=bw>{{cite web|title=Barrel Well - Ajana Community Layout Plan Report & Provisions |url=http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/BarrelWell_LP1_draft_V2_report.pdf|website=Western Australian Planning Commission|accessdate=11 March 2016|location=Perth, WA|date=November 2004}}</ref>
The community is managed by the Barrel Well Nanda Aboriginal Corporation, a body incorporated under the ''Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976'' on 26 May 1992. The Management Order of ''Reserve 1457 Victoria Location 11991 Barrel Well'' was transferred from the [[Aboriginal Land Trust]] to the corporation on 28 June 2000.<ref name=bw/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130506033235/http://www.nntt.gov.au/Applications-And-Determinations/Search-Applications/Pages/Application.aspx?tribunal_file_no=WC00%2F13 Native Title Claimant application summary]
{{Towns Mid West WA}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Shire of Northampton]]
[[Category:Towns in Western Australia]]
[[Category:Aboriginal communities in Mid West (Western Australia)]]