serious damage from Tropical Cyclone Seroja after making landfall as an Australian scale Category 3 system north of nearby Gregory. Heritage Northampton is one of the oldest towns in Western Australia, having been declared a townsite in 1864. It was classified as a "historic town" by the National Trust of Australia (WA) in 1993 in recognition of the important heritage buildings that have been conserved and which are still in use there. Notable among them are two buildings by the eminent priest architect Mgr Hawes. Most important is the Church of Our Lady in Ara Coeli, built . It is a romantic Neo Gothic, hammer dressed, sandstone building with some Arts and Crafts elements. Next to the church is the Convent of the Sacred Heart, also by Mgr Hawes, built in 1919 in a more conventional two storied Australian style with its deep sun-shading wooden verandahs. Both buildings are on the Permanent Register of the State Heritage Register of Western Australia. Transport The first Western Australian government railway was constructed from Geraldton to Northampton, a distance of 33 miles 25 chains, and opened on 26 July 1879. An extension from Northampton to Ajana of 33 miles 5 chains was opened on 13 March 1913. The line closed on 29 April 1957. Notable residents Sir David Brand (1912-1979), 19th Premier of Western Australia Bradley John Murdoch, convicted murderer of English backpacker Peter Falconio William Burges (c. 1806-1876), established Bowes Estate, pastoralist, resident magistrate, MLC Jamie Cripps, Australian rules footballer Patrick Cripps Australian rules footballer John Drew (1865-1947), newspaper publisher, anti-federationist, Colonial Secretary, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Lands, Minister for Education. Paul Hasleby, Australian rules footballer Herbert Johnson (1889-1962), federal Minister for the Interior Josh J. Kennedy, Australian rules footballer Andrew Lockyer, Australian rules footballer Samuel Mitchell (c. 1838-1912), pioneer of the mining industry in Western Australia, MLC, MLA Harry Taylor, Australian rules footballer References Further reading Gibbs, M. (1997) Landscapes of Meaning – Joseph Lucas Horrocks and the Gwalla Estate, Northampton, Western Australia. Historical Traces: Studies in Western Australian History, No. 17. University of Western Australia Press. Towns in Western Australia Grain receival points of Western Australia Mining towns in Western Australia