Bruce Rock

Bruce Rock is located in the central wheatbelt approximately 240 kms due east of Perth and about 50 kms south of Merredin. When the town was established in 1913 it was then called Nunagin (or Noonegin) but this was thought to be confusing with other town names, particularly Narrogin and Nungarin. John Rufus Bruce was an early settler who harvested sandalwood and a nearby rock is named after him, thus the name Bruce Rock was coined and adopted

Bruce Rock - Welcome Sign

Welcome to Bruce Rock the sign says, ably supported by a nice piece of rock. Not the Bruce Rock of course, but just a stand-in. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK001

Bruce Rock - Shire Office

The main shopping and business street in Bruce Rock is Johnson Street which runs north-south. Coming into town from Quairading, you enter towards the south end. One of the first buildings encountered in the fine Shire Office building, constructed in 1928. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK002

Bruce Rock - Shire Hall

Next door to the Shire Office is the Shire Hall which is of much later vintage. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK003

Bruce Rock - Farmers Co-Op Building

Towards the south end of Johnson Street is the old Bruce Rock District Farmers Co-Op building these days used partially by a cafe. The section on the left is empty. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK004

Bruce Rock - Johnson Street

This is a view along Johnson Street looking north. In view is the west side of the street. The east side is where the rail yards are/were, plus a few community facilities. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK005

Update March 27, 2020. I see in the paper today there is a report of Mason's Shopping Centre burning down on the night of the 25th.

Bruce Rock - Community Resource Centre

A section of the row of shops on the main street. In view is the Community Resource Centre. The original use of the building is not known but it was built (or at least established) in 1914. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK006

Bruce Rock - Craft Shop

On Johnson Street is the Craft Shop. This was formerly Posa's Dining Room and Fruiters constructed in circa 1928. The family lived upstairs. Prior to Mr Posa's premises, a railway dining room occupied this site. The Shire of Bruce Rock bought the building in 1922. To the left is the former butcher's shop which is now a pizza store. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK007

Bruce Rock - Hotel

On the main street, on the corner of Bruce Street, is the Bruce Rock Hotel. This was built in 1914 and extended in 1921. In the Inherit State Register entry for this hotel, it states that when this hotel was opened there was no police lock-up in town so drunks were chained to a log. Bush justice. In the early days this was known as the Bruce Rock State Hotel. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK008

Bruce Rock - Post Office

The Bruce Rock Post Office on the corner of Johnson and Bruce Streets. This was constructed in 1922. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK009

Bruce Rock - Roadhouse

A building duo towards the north end of Johnson Street. On the left is the Bruce Rock Roadhouse. No petrol pumps here anymore. It seems to be a food shop. To the right is Durham Hall, which may have been the garage repair shop section of the roadhouse. Today it's a video store. It looks a lot like an old picture theatre. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK010

Bruce Rock - Museum

Near the hotel is the Bruce Rock Museum. You can see the verandah of the hotel further down the road. This building was erected in 1921 as a branch of the Western Australia Bank which later became the Bank of N.S.W. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK011

Bruce Rock - Country Cupboard

On Johnson Street is Country Cupboard store which appears to retail women's clothing. Apparently this building originated in Kalgoorlie and was moved here and became a bakery. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK012

Bruce Rock - Johnson Street

Here is a look south down Johnson Street taken from across the road from about where the Road House building is. Prominent in the picture is part of the museum and the hotel. You can see the cream coloured Shire Offices and purple Farmers Co-Op building off in the distance. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK013

Bruce Rock - House For Sale

Quite a few houses are for sale around town and here is one. There are many fine houses in town but also many that are quite run-down. Towns like this rely on the prosperity of surrounding farms and crops in recent years have been poor. That naturally has financial and social flow-on effects to the town. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK014

Bruce Rock - Old Hall

Pictured on Dampier Street is this old hall. No longer in use as such now, it looks to be abandoned. The brick toilet buildings on the right side are starting to crumble. This was simply the Bruce Rock Hall, formerly the Druid's Hall. The Methodist Church purchased the building as its hall in 1953 and then sold it circa 1993. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK015

Bruce Rock - Senior Citizen Centre

Across the road from the above hall is the Senior Citizen Centre Association. This building was formerly the local Masonic Lodge. The Foundation Stone was laid by Bro. John Lethlean on 17th October, 1923. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK016

Bruce Rock - Uniting Church

The Uniting Church with its corrugated iron walls looks good on Dampier Street. It was erected in January 1915 as a Methodist Church. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK017

Bruce Rock - Amphitheatre

Across the main street from the central shops is this fine grassed amphitheatre complete with a covered semi-circular stage. Behind this building is the rail yard. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK018

Bruce Rock - Rail Yard

Here are the rail yards such as they are today. Not much left anymore. The station has been removed. The track in the distance runs off to Merredin. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK019

Bruce Rock - Rail Building

This building is one of the few remaining in the rail yard. It's flanked by a flag pole and a fine tree. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK020

Bruce Rock - Rail Sign

All that remains of the Bruce Rock railway station is this sign, looking rather forlorn. Though at least it's still here. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK021

Bruce Rock - Rail Locomotive

Sitting up on a branch line at the south end of town I caught this CBH locomotive awaiting its next grain haulage run. June 2013. Photos Ref: BRCK022

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