Midland
Railway terminus now a service centre.
Located 19 km east of Perth, Midland (originally known as Midland Junction) came into existence as a direct result of the establishment of a railway line from Perth to the Avon Valley settlements of Toodyay, Northam and York. In 1881 the railway from Perth reached the Swan Valley. The railway terminus inevitably became an important transportation centre as people and goods had to be transferred from the train to the drays and wagons which came from the east. In 1886 the Midland Railway Company built a railway line to take the goods further east. The point where the two railway lines met became known as Midland Junction, later to be reduced to Midland. It was here that the Government railway built its workshops and the Midland Railway Company established its head office. Inevitably a township grew up to service the railway workers and the people who passed through the junction.

In her excellent book, The Swan Valley: A Perspective in Time and Place, Dorothy B. Robinson notes that the rise of Midland was as a direct result of the arrival of the railway line. Basically Midland took over from Guildford as the Swan Valley's major transportation centre.

'Midland, just upstream from Guildford, developed as a trading and regional centre, based on railway activities. The Railway Workshop and the freight handling yards were established here where plenty of suitable flat land was available, to be followed, shortly afterwards, by the abattoir, close to the railway line for ease of stock transport. These formed the early focus of Midland's activities, though now only the Workshop remains.'

Today Midland (now an outer suburb of Perth) lies in the heart of the Swan Valley vineyards. Grapes have been grown in the area since the beginning of European settlement. The first vineyard was established in 1829 at Olive Farm near Guildford. The first serious vineyard was established in 1859 when Dr John Ferguson planted grapes at the Houghton homestead (see Guildford).

A subsequent major boost to this small, low key industry occurred in the 1920s when an influx of Yugoslav migrants from the Dalmatian coast ensured that the industry expanded rapidly. Today the heirs of these settlers still run many of the vineyards in the valley. There is still a sense that the vineyards in the Swan Valley are family affairs. Few of the vineyards are major producers. The bulk of the manufacturers often produce less than 100 000 litres per vintage.

Things to see:  

Vineyards in the Area
It is extraordinary to think that from Guildford to Upper Swan there are no fewer than twenty vineyards - Adriatic Wines at Herne Hill, Banara Wines at Caversham, Evans & Tate at Henley Brook, Little River Wines at West Swan, Henley Park Wines at Henley Brook, Highway Wines at Herne Hill, Houghton Wines at Middle Swan, Jane Brook Estate Wines at Middle Swan, Lamont Wines at Millendon, Olive Farm Wines at South Guildford, Pinelli Wines at Caversham, Revelry Wines at Herne Hill, Sandalford Wines at Caversham, Talijancich Wines at Herne Hill, Twin Hills Wines at Millendon, Valley Wines at Herne Hill, Vindara Wine Cellars at Herne Hill, Vino Italia at Herne Hill and Westfield Wines at Baskerville. The Swan Valley Tourism Council, Great Southern Highway, Midland - contact (08) 9274 1522 have a map of the wineries in the area which details of their times of opening.

Historic Buildings
The town has a number of National Estate listed buildings. The most prominent are Woodbridge (see Guildford) and the Midland Post Office (1913), a handsome two storey brick building with a hipped roof and three unusual vents which with the nearby Court House (1890s) and Town Hall (built 1906 - clock tower added 1923) make an important and elegant centre to the town. The Swan Valley Tourist Bureau is located in the Town Hall building.

	Motels
	Budget Motel 51 Victoria St Midland WA 6065 Telephone: (08) 9250 2688
	Hotels
	Commercial Tavern 70 Railway Pde Midland WA 6065 Telephone: (09) 250 1824
	Midland Inn 364 Great Eastern Hwy Midland WA 6065 Telephone: (09) 274 1433
	Stockman Hotel 46 Railway Pde Midland WA 6065 Telephone: (09) 274 1430
	The Junction Hotel Midland 309 Great Eastern Hwy Midland WA 6065 Telephone: Ph (09) 250 1930
	Caravan Parks
	Midland Caravan Park 2 Toodyay Rd Midland WA 6065 Telephone: (08) 9274 3002
	Restaurants
	Larrikins Family Restaurant The Crescent Midland WA 6065 Telephone: (08) 9250 3011
	Orient Escape Chinese Restaurant Great Eastern Hwy Midland WA 6065 Telephone: (08) 9274 2925
	Santorellis Chapel Restaurant Viveash Rd Midland WA 6065 Telephone: (08) 9274 3430
	Thai Gallery Restaurant Great Eastern Hwy Midland WA 6065 Telephone: (08) 9274 8998
	Vivaldi Restaurant The Avenue Midland WA 6065 Telephone: (08) 9 274 6555