The history of Eucla is a topic of interest, as it is a small settlement with a unique past. Discover the story behind Eucla and how it has evolved over time.
Eucla was originally named after a ship called the Europa that was wrecked near the area in 1852. The settlement grew as a telegraph repeater station along the Overland Telegraph Line, which connected Perth in Western Australia to Adelaide in South Australia. Eucla became an important stopping point for travelers and became a significant site during the gold rush era in Western Australia. In the early 20th century, Eucla was a bustling town with a school, police station, post office, and several other facilities. However, the construction of the Eyre Highway in the 1940s and 1950s bypassed Eucla, which led to a decline in population and economic activity. Today, Eucla is a small settlement with a hotel, caravan park, and few other amenities, primarily serving as a rest stop for travelers along the Eyre Highway.