Shire of Kulin

The glowing canola paddocks and happy cattle mean spring is on its way in Kulin

The Shire of Kulin recently invited me to spend a couple of days there to create their own stock library of photographs. It was a perfect time to visit with the canola brightening up the landscape, and the wildflowers starting to bloom as winter was giving way to spring. 

It was also an amazing opportunity for me to get to know this beautiful Wheatbelt town and its truly remarkable community. You may have watched the ABC Back Roads episode that focussed on Kulin, in which case you’ll perhaps remember that it’s a town that punches way above its weight. 

A few decades ago, local couple Felix (Phil) and Kath Freebairn left their entire estate to the town which goes a long way to explain Kulin’s astonishing sporting facilities and the community’s enormous waterslide.

The annual Kulin Bush Races have also put the town on the map with the 3000 tickets for this year’s event selling out in 38 seconds!

With careful planning and kind weather we were able to capture so many aspects of Kulin over the two days - portraits of the Shire staff and local characters, the farming life and landscapes, children at the local school and daycare, as well as at the town’s well-equipped public playground, and all the goings-on at the Freebairn Recreation Centre over the weekend as Kulin’s footy and netball teams played at home.

This is a town where the entire community pulls in the same direction to make magic happen.