Donnybrook, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Tourism
Donnybrook has many town icons bearing the apple. On the main street, apple-shaped lights line the entrance of the Old Railway Station. These lights have recently been restored. Atop the east Donnybrook hill is a 20 metres (65.6 ft) high tower with an apple at the top. The apple is part of The Big Apple Tourist & Wildlife Park, and from the top of the apple, visitors can view Donnybrook and its surrounding areas. The Lady William big apple is made of fibreglass and is 7.5 metres tall with a diameter of 6.5 metres, making it one of Australia's "Big Things".The Apple FunPark, the largest free-entry playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
in Australia, opened in Easter 2008 in time for the Donnybrook Apple Festival. The fruit-themed park has play equipment and an adult exercise area.
The Old Goldfields Orchard & Cider Factory houses a small museum that documents the rise and fall of the goldfield. The Hunters Venture poppet head has been re-built above the original mine shaft, and the Mount Cara adit
Adit
An adit is an entrance to an underground mine which is horizontal or nearly horizontal, by which the mine can be entered, drained of water, and ventilated.-Construction:...
is open for tourists' inspection.
Apple festival
Every two years the Donnybrook Apple Festival is held during EasterEaster
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
. The next festival is in 2012. During the apple festival, the citizens of Donnybrook gather at Egan Park to celebrate the apple. The festival includes agricultural displays, sideshow alley, the crowning of the Apple Queen and a parade. During the street parade the Catholic Church of Donnybrook blesses the holy apple, assuring a good harvest
Harvest
Harvest is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper...
in the years to come.
The Apple Queen was traditionally chosen from young females from the Donnybrook/Balingup area, aged between 17 and 25 years. In 2006, this was changed to the title of "Ambassador", with males allowed to enter the competition. Contestants attend dinners and perform community service, and ride on giant apple-shaped floats in the parade. From these floats they give apples, fruit and lollies to the children lining the closed-off section of the South Western Highway
South Western Highway
South Western Highway is a highway in the South West region of Western Australia connecting Perth's southeast with Walpole. It is a part of the National Highway 1 network for most of its length...
.
The Apple Festival also had a mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
, Donny Applebrook, created in 1997. Donny was a giant green apple who promoted the festival.
English Oak
Donnybrook is home to Australia's largest known English Oak. The tree, believed to originate from 1893 is a landmark within the town.See also
- Donnybrook stoneDonnybrook stoneDonnybrook stone is a fine to medium-grained feldspathic and kaolinitic sandstone found near the town of Donnybrook, Western Australia. It originates from the early Cretaceous and features shale partings and colour variations which range from white to beige and pink.Donnybrook stone is used as...
- Donnybrook Oak