Last Updated on January 16, 2026 by Home in the World
You’ve no doubt heard of New York, and you’ve probably also heard of York in England. But have you heard of York, the oldest inland town in Western Australia? Situated 97 km (65 miles) east of Perth, in what is known as the Wheatbelt region, York has a population just shy of 2,500, and is also well known for its annual jazz festival.
One Sunday, on a whim, my friend and I decided to make the most of a stunningly clear autumn day to do a York day trip, taking the 1.5-hour drive out to this small town to see what it had to offer. The scenery along the way is not the most exciting, but is typical of Perth’s semi-rural outskirts.
Doing a York day trip from Perth
We arrived just in time for lunch, and, after doing a bit of scouting, we settled on The Flourmill Cafe, which proved to be a good choice. It’s standard café fare, but good quality, in a rustic setting.
We sat in the outdoor courtyard, and enjoyed the tranquility of the rustling eucalyptus trees and chirping birds. As the name suggests, it is housed in the Old York Flour Mill, whose unique part-brick, part-corrugated iron building is a photo opportunity in itself.
By the time we’d finished lunch, it was already getting quite late into the afternoon, but we decided to take a stroll down York’s main street, Avon Terrace, named after the nearby Avon River. It seems we had underestimated how early things start to shut in small country towns, especially on a Sunday, as many of the shops along the street had already closed.
Still, York is home to some cute, historic architecture that is bound to excite any creative photographer. Of particular note is the striking Edwardian town hall, built in 1911.
The York Post Office, the oldest surviving two storey post and telegraph building in Western Australia, is another distinctive sight along Avon Terrace, with its brick-and-stone exterior, tin roof, and bright red telephone boxes outside. It has been used continuously as a post office since 1866.
Below is a collage of some of the other streetscapes and landmark buildings we were able to snap on our wanderings around the town:
All in all, it was an enjoyable afternoon away from the big smoke. I rarely get out to any Australian country towns, so it was refreshing to soak up the laid-back vibe, tuck into some hearty fare, and admire the unique architecture in this Wheatbelt outpost. As an easy half-day trip from Perth, it’s a great option for locals and tourists alike – just be sure not to leave it too late if you want to explore the main street before it shuts shop!
** This post, like everything else on this website, has been written entirely by me. No ChatGPT or any other AI tool has been used. It takes longer to create, but I value 100% human-generated content and I hope you do too! **
Trip facts
When I visited: May 2016
Weather: Autumn in general (mid-March-May) is a stunning time of year in south-western Australia. The intense summer heat has passed, and the winter cold is yet to set in, so the days are warm/mild, and skies are usually clear.
It would be my pick as the season to come, though any time would really be ok – apart from probably peak summer (January, February and early March), when inland areas in particular can get very hot and dry, and there is a greater risk of bushfires.
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