Here’s How it all Started
In 1859 Thomas Austin imported 12 breeding pairs of rabbits from Europe to place on his property in Geelong, Victoria. The rabbits were to be used for sport (game hunting) but they soon began to breed out of control. In 1901 a Royal Commission was held into the increasing number of rabbits hopping into W.A. from South Australia.
The Solution
The solution was to build a Rabbit Proof Fence. Construction of this wire fence began in 1902 & was finally completed in 1907. By the time of its completion, many rabbits had already hopped into W.A. Two more fences were built at taxpayers’ expense before the government realised it was a waste of time and money.
The Fence
The original fence, The State Barrier Fence, is now used mainly to control the movement of dingoes, emus & kangaroos. The fence runs for 1,832km & is the longest in the world. The fence runs between Starvation Bay, west of Esperance, to the Ninety Mile Beach, east of Port Hedland. It is estimated that over 8,000 tonnes of material was used in its initial construction. Many of the posts for the fence were cut from the nearby bushland (where possible!). The south section of the fence passes to the east of Hyden.
Please note that poisoned 1080 baits are located along the fence. Keep your dogs or pets away from these baits. If ingested it is a slow death for the animal.
Controversy
Like anything that creates a barrier, the fence has always been steeped in controversy. Farmers have been long supporters of the fence, claiming it has continued to save their crops from pests. Whilst critics claim it is the Berlin Wall against nature. Emphasizing the cruel way migrating native animals such as emus have died trying to get over the wire in search of food and water.
In 2013 a plan was announced to extend the “old” rabbit proof fence by another 500 – 700kms to include the Great Western Woodlands. The farmers in the Esperance area claim they need further protection from wild dogs and emus. The wild dogs have long been a menace to sheep and the emus are notorious for destroying crops. Protesting the plan, the Conservation Council of Western Australia and Pew Environment Group said the new fence is a “cruel, unscientific and uneconomic” way to manage land. So far there has been no move by the Government to fund the extension.
Rabbit Proof Fence the Book and Movie
In 1996 the book Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington was published. The book, based on a true story, followed the plight of three young Aboriginal girls who were members of the Stolen Generation. Having been forcibly removed from their families in the 1930s they escaped from the Moore River Native Settlement and followed the Rabbit Proof Fence for 9 weeks until the made it home. In 2002 the book was made into a film by Phillip Noyce.