The best 5 things to do in Northam, Western Australia

The best things to do in Northam, Western Australia, include seeing the silo art, visiting the Bilya Koort Boodja cultural centre and Avon Valley hot air ballooning tours.

The best things to do in Northam, WA, are:

Old Northam Railway Station.
Morby Cottage.
Bilya Koort Boodja cultural centre.
Grain silo art.
Avon Valley hot air ballooning.

Where is Northam, WA?

Northam, Western Australia, is the largest town in the Avon Valley. That doesn’t mean it’s big – the Northam population is only around 6,500.

But Northam is worth a look on the drive from Perth to Kalgoorlie along the Great Eastern Highway, or as a stop on the Prospector train.

Things to do in Northam, Western Australia: Heritage buildings

Things to do in Northam, Western Australia, include checking out the handful of heritage buildings. Two of these are now museums. The Old Northam Railway Station is little more than a collection of old trains and vehicles, while Morby Cottage is one of the oldest colonial residences in Western Australia.

Morby Cottage dates back to 1839, and at one point served as Northam’s school, church, courthouse and post office.

Things to do in Northam: Bilya Koorta Boodja & silo art

Top of the list of things to do in Northam, Western Australia, however, should be Bilya Koort Boodja.

On the banks of the Avon River, the Bilya Koort Boodja Centre for Nyoongar Culture and Environmental Knowledge. This cultural centre is run by the local Noongar Indigenous people. It uses interactive displays to showcase the Noongar culture and view of the world.

The most visually arresting attraction in Northam, though, is the silo art. In 2015, the enormous grain silos belonging to grain handler CBH Corp got a makeover. Renowned street artists Phlegm and HENSE painted giant murals all over the silos, making the silo complex one of the biggest pieces of public art in Australia.

Avon Valley hot air balloon tours from Northam, WA

For the more adventurous, it’s possible to go on a hot air balloon flight over the Avon Valley. Windward Balloon Adventures is based in Northam. Meeting an hour before sunrise at the Northam Airfield, participants get to watch the giant balloons being inflated. Then there’s a 45 minute float along the Avon Valley. These Northam hot air balloon rides cost from $300 per person.

Hot air ballooning over the Avon Valley from Northam, Western Australia. Photo by Lyndall Hanbury.

Northam accommodation

If road-tripping slowly from Perth to Kalgoorlie, Northam is a decent place to spend the night. Good places to stay include the historic Duke’s Inn and the well-reviewed Fairway Manor.

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