Hi Denise, Some info: HAMEL Latitude : 32 52 S Longitude : 115 55 E Situated 3 km south of Waroona in the south west, Hamel was gazetted a townsite in 1899. It was named in compliment to Mr Lancal V de Hamel, the former owner of the land where the townsite is situated. De Hamel was a prominent Member of Parliament, the former MLA for Albany, and had passed away at Coolgardie on 26th of November 1894. The land for the townsite was purchased from de Hamel's estate in 1898 and subdivided by the Department of Lands and Surveys. from Department of Land Information W.A. www.dli.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/ web/History+of+country+town+names+-+h - 25k An interesting site for all W.A. places. Denise, I guess you know the 1890s was when gold was discovered in various places in W.A. Also there are the contingents to the Boer War that were raised there at this time. Jenny