Harvey North Irrigation Channel

On 21st June 1916, Harvey experienced a significant day with Sir Harry Barron, the Governor of Western Australia, officially opening the Harvey Irrigation Scheme.

It was the first irrigation scheme of its kind in Western Australia, providing gravity-fed water to agricultural properties in the Region. Channels were hand-dug with wooden wheelbarrows and manual labour.

These irrigation channels led to the establishment of the Harvey Region as a major Australian food-producing region.

The Harvey North Irrigation Channel is one of the last remaining examples of the original irrigation channels in Harvey. Today, channels and pipes run underground for improved water use efficiency.

To view the channel, take the path from Stirling Cottage Gardens to the Harvey Internment Camp Memorial Shrine.

The small pedestrian bridge over the channel is known as Garry’s Crossing. It’s named after Garry Van Burgel OAM in recognition of the work that he did in assisting with the establishment of the Shire precinct and, particularly, the bridge.