Shire of York, Western Australia, continues its focus on economic development through its adopted Trails Master Plan and recent launch of the Wara Art Trail and York Walks.
‘York Walks’ includes a number of short town walk and cycle routes titled Grand Designs, Hidden Gems and Convicts and Crossings, ranging from .75-1.5km in length.
The 10 year Trails Master Plan provides recreation opportunities for locals and aims to entice visitors to the region and highlight York as a trails destination.
The Trails Master Plan offers visitors and locals accessible and immersive trail experiences, that capitalise on the significant opportunities on Mount Brown, Mount Bakewell and along the Avon River.
Wara Art features sculptures made using locally sourced wheat straw and created into larger than life sculptures using the Wara Art technique founded by Wara Art Japan.
The six sculptures feature Australian endangered fauna, the Numbat, Western Ground Parrot, Western Swamp Tortoise, Murray Cod, Rakali and Bilby and are located throughout the township.
The Wara Art Trail is a collaboration of Japanese artists, Australian artists and volunteers from across Western Australia and the York community and the main drawcard of the York Festival which runs over three weekends annually in September and October.
Japan purchases nearly all the wheat flour used for its considerable consumption of noodles from Western Australia and the Wara Art Trail and York Festival celebrates the importance of the wheatbelt and trade relationship between Western Australia and Japan.
