Rabbits became established in Victoria in 1859 and advanced at the rate of about 112km per year and entered Western Australia 34 years later in 1894.

The 50% drop in stock carrying capacity and the extensive damage to cereal crops following their spread was evidence of the hundreds of millions of dollars the rabbits ere to cost Australia.

The WA Government in 1901 commenced the No. 1 fence, at a point 128km west of Esperance – called Bedford Harbour – north again to go into the sea, south of Port Hedland. This fence covered over 1800km in length.

Rabbits bypassed this fence so No. 2 fence was built roughly parallel with No. 1 90 – 160km further West starting from Pt Anne on the South Coast through Cunderdin to Yalgoo and then met the No.1 at Meekatharra a t Gum Creek. It was approximately 1120km long and built in 1906 at a cost of $400 per mile. The No. 3 fence was completed in 1907. The state had about 3200km of fencing at a cost of $816.00.

The posts were 4 metres apart with three plain wires, the height was approximately 1 metre and the wire tarred and buried into the ground to a depth of ½ metre.

Gates were numbered on this fence (no. 2) by the miles from Cunderdin and at all times were to be kept closed or fines were imposed.

Yard traps also were set into the fence at intervals of 10 miles to trap the rabbits.

Yard traps with a wire funnel leading from the fence trapped the rabbits and the inspections by the rabbiter duly dispensed of the pests. The Inspector was stationed at Cunderdin and inspected as far as the 88 mile peg approximately 3 times a month.

Small huts were built for the men who maintained the fences and today the only evidence of its existence is a chimney and timber supports by the property of Mr Fred Clarke at north Quairading.

Click here to see a map of the Rabbit Proof Fence