John Forrest, later Premier of Western Australia, recorded the name Clackline in 1879 but the origin of the word is unknown.

The memorial site is located on the low side of Avro Anson Road, in a small park[10] approximately five kilometres (3.1 mi) south-east of Clackline.

[11] The memorial, assembled by members of the local community in the months following the crash, features a cairn of granite and boulders supporting a jarrah cross.

Upon its rediscovery in the early 1980s, the memorial's history and significance were researched, and it was restored in 1984 by volunteers from the Perth branch of the Royal Australian Air Force Association.

The mainly timber bridge has a unique curved and sloped design, due to the difficult topography and the route of the former railway.

The bridge has undergone various improvement and maintenance works since then, including widening by three metres (10 ft) in 1959–60, but remained a safety hazard, with increasing severity and numbers of accidents through the 1970s and 1980s.

[18][19] An abundant supply of fine quality clay was discovered in Clackline in 1898, which led to the establishment of a quarry and refractory.

[20] By 1901, the industry was important to Western Australia, with the brick products from Clackline used by multiple government departments, the Fremantle Gas and Coke Company, and many goldmines.

The monument features a sculpture of a lion, with a plaque reading:[22] ERECTED by the PUPILS of CLACKLINE to COMMEMORATE the CENTENARY of the

[23] A restored rail carriage, serving as a museum, was installed by the now-defunct Clackline Railway Committee.

[25] In addition to the statewide newspapers The West Australian and The Sunday Times, Clackline is served by the Northam-based Avon Valley Advocate.