South West region of Western Australia
Encyclopedia
The South West region is one of the nine regions of Western Australia
. It is so named because it located in the south west corner of Western Australia
. The South West region has an area of 23,970 km², and a population of about 123,000 people.
, with dry summers and wet winters. About 900mm of rain falls per year, with almost all of it falling between May and September. Mean maximum daily temperatures range from 16°C (61°F) in July to 32°C (85°F) in February.
and mineral sands, and also has substantial agriculture
, timber
and viticulture
industries. It is Western Australia's most popular tourist
destination outside Perth
.
:
Regions of Western Australia
Regionalisations of Western Australia are systems by which Western Australia is divided into distinct geographic regions. The most commonly known regionalisation is the governmental division of the state into regions for economic development purposes, of which there are nine.Other regionalisations...
. It is so named because it located in the south west corner of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The South West region has an area of 23,970 km², and a population of about 123,000 people.
Climate
The South West has a Mediterranean climateMediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
, with dry summers and wet winters. About 900mm of rain falls per year, with almost all of it falling between May and September. Mean maximum daily temperatures range from 16°C (61°F) in July to 32°C (85°F) in February.
Economy
The economy of the South West is very diverse. It is a major world producer of aluminaAluminium oxide
Aluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide with the chemical formula 23. It is commonly referred to as alumina, or corundum in its crystalline form, as well as many other names, reflecting its widespread occurrence in nature and industry...
and mineral sands, and also has substantial agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
and viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
industries. It is Western Australia's most popular tourist
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
destination outside Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
.
Local Government divisions
The South West region consists of the following local government areasLocal Government Areas of Western Australia
The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 141 local government areas...
:
- Augusta-Margaret River
- Boyup BrookShire of Boyup BrookThe Shire of Boyup Brook is a Local Government Area located in the South West region of Western Australia, about southeast of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of and its seat of government is the town of Boyup Brook.-History:...
- Bridgetown-Greenbushes
- BunburyBunbury, Western AustraliaThe port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
- Busselton
- CapelShire of CapelThe Shire of Capel is a Local Government Area in the South West region of Western Australia, taking in the land between the cities of Bunbury and Busselton about south of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Capel...
- CollieShire of CollieThe Shire of Collie is a Local Government Area in the South West region of Western Australia, about east of Bunbury and about south of the state capital, Perth...
- DardanupShire of DardanupThe Shire of Dardanup is a Local Government Area in the South West region of Western Australia, immediately to the east and southeast of the city of Bunbury and about south of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is in Eaton in Bunbury's eastern...
- Donnybrook-Balingup
- HarveyShire of HarveyThe Shire of Harvey is a Local Government Area of Western Australia. It is located in the state's South West region, approximately 140km south of Perth, and includes some of Bunbury's northern suburbs. The shire covers an area of 1,728 km² and has a estimated population of about 24,000...
- ManjimupShire of ManjimupThe Shire of Manjimup is a Local Government Area in the South West region of Western Australia, about south of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of , and its seat of government is the town of Manjimup. It has an estimated population of 10,159 .-History:The Shire area was first...
- NannupShire of NannupThe Shire of Nannup is a Local Government Area in the South West region of Western Australia, approximately south of the state capital, Perth and southeast of the coastal resort town of Busselton...
.
Map
- Western Australia. Dept. of Land Administration. Cartographic Services Branch. (2004) South West Corner/Western Australia Perth, W.A.. Scale 1:150 000 ; (E 114°58'--E 115°40'/S 033°27'--S 034°25') Also known as StreetSmart Touring Map - with localities Augusta, Busselton, Dunsborough and Margaret River on title ISBN 0-7309-2907-8
Attractions
- Some well known attractions include Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and Discovery Center, Ngilgi CaveNgilgi CaveNgilgi Cave, previously known as Yallingup Cave, is a Karst cave to the northeast of Yallingup, in the southwest of Western Australia. It was discovered by Edward Dawson in 1899 when searching for stray horses. Retrieved 27 April 2007...
, Jewel Cave (Western Australia), Cape Leeuwin LighthouseCape Leeuwin LighthouseThe Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on the headland of Cape Leeuwin, the most south-westerly point on the mainland of the Australian Continent, in the state of Western Australia....
, Mammoth Cave (Western Australia)Mammoth Cave (Western Australia)Mammoth Cave is a large limestone cave 21 km south of the town of Margaret River in south-western Western Australia, and about 300 km south of Perth. It lies within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and is surrounded by Karri and Marri forest....
, Caveworks, Lake Cave, The Kodja Place, Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre, and Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk.
See also
- Augusta, Western AustraliaAugusta, Western AustraliaAugusta is a town on the south-west coast of Western Australia, where the Blackwood River emerges into Flinders Bay. It is the nearest town to Cape Leeuwin, on the farthest south-west corner of the Australian continent. In the 2001 census it had a population of 1,694; by 2006 the population of...
- Karridale, Western AustraliaKarridale, Western AustraliaKarridale is a small township in the south-west of Western Australia. Its postcode is 6288 and is located just north of Augusta and south of Margaret River between Caves Road and Bussell Highway. A newer township was built a short distance north east of the original Old Karridale following fires...
- Margaret River (wine region)Margaret River (wine region)Margaret River is the foremost Geographical Indication wine region in the South West Australia Zone, with nearly 5,500 hectares under vine and over 138 wineries as at 2008. Margaret River wine region is made up predominately of boutique size wine producers; although winery operations range from the...
- Margaret River, Western AustraliaMargaret River, Western AustraliaMargaret River is a town in the South West of Western Australia, located in the valley of the eponymous Margaret River, south of Perth, the state capital. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River....
- Great Southern (wine region)Great Southern Wine RegionThe Great Southern Wine Region in Western Australia's South West is Australia's largest wine region a rectangle 200 kilometres from east to west and over 100 kilometers from north to south...