Merredin

Merredin is a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, with a population of 2604 in 2021. It's traditionally a stopping point between Perth and the Kalgoorlie gold mines, and had a gold rush itself in the 1880s / 90s. It was too dry for agriculture until a water-catchment was built on the nearby hill; it's nowadays a grain-producing area with huge grain silos by the railway tracks.

Get in
Merredin is 261 km east of Perth and 333 km west of Kalgoorlie on Highway 94, the Great Eastern Highway.

Trains from Perth East and Midlands take 3 hr 30 min to Merredin, for a return fare of $51 in 2023. The Prospector runs M-Sa around 7AM from Perth to Toodyay, Northam, Merredin and Kalgoorlie (another 3 hr 30 min), plus an afternoon run M F Su. The Merredinlink runs M W F around 9AM to Toodyay, Northam and Merredin, heading back just after 1 PM. The Avonlink train doesn't come this far out.

is central in town. It's just a platform halt.

Transwa buses don't run to Merredin.

Get around
It's easy to walk around the town, although it can get hot.

Buy

 * IGA is the town store, at 96 Barrack St opposite the railway station and open M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 9AM-5PM.
 * Fuel: never run low on these long roads. The Roadhouse on Todd St by the Tourist Park is open daily 6AM-7PM.

Eat

 * Merredin Pizza is at 19 Bates St behind the IGA, open daily 11:30AM-1:30PM, 3:30-8:30PM.
 * Merredin Palace is a so-so Chinese on Mitchell St, corner with Bates St, open M-Sa 5PM-8PM.
 * Merredin Palace is a so-so Chinese on Mitchell St, corner with Bates St, open M-Sa 5PM-8PM.

Drink

 * Commercial Hotel is your best bet.

Connect
As of May 2023, Merredin and the nearby stretches of the Great Eastern Highway have 4G from Optus, a poor patchy signal from Telstra, and nothing from Vodafone. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Northam west is the main town on the road west before you reach Perth.
 * Hyden to the south is near Wave Rock.
 * Kalgoorlie away east is a gold-mining city.