Walpole, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Walpole is a town in Western Australia
, 432 km SSE of Perth
and 66 km west of Denmark
.
Walpole lies very close to the northern point of the 100-hectare Walpole Inlet, from which it takes its name.
The inlet in turn is named for the Walpole River, discovered in 1831 by Captain Thomas Bannister
, and named by Governor Stirling
for Captain W. Walpole, with whom he had served aboard HMS Warspite in 1808.
The first European settler
s to arrive in the area was Pierre Bellanger and his family in 1909. They travelled aboard the Grace Darling from Albany
to take up 4000 acres (16.2 km²) of land.
Land in the Walpole area was reserved for a national park in 1910, and the area subsequently became a popular holiday destination.
Major development began to occur in the 1930s as part of the land settlement scheme.
The railway reached Nornalup
in 1929, and the Walpole town site was gazetted in 1933.
Walpole was always the preferred name, but it was believed this was already in use in Tasmania
. So the newly-gazetted township was officially named Nornalup, but this caused confusion with the railway terminus 13 kilometres east. Eventually the Post Office advised that there was no Walpole in Tasmania, and in 1934 the town reverted to its original name of Walpole.
Walpole is one of the few towns through which the Bibbulmun Track
passes.
The area is famous for the giant tingle
and karri
trees of old growth forest
. Another attraction is the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park
.
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...
, 432 km SSE of 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....
and 66 km west of Denmark
Denmark, Western Australia
Denmark is a town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, south-south-east of the state capital of Perth. At the 2006 census, Denmark had a population of 2,732.-History:...
.
Walpole lies very close to the northern point of the 100-hectare Walpole Inlet, from which it takes its name.
The inlet in turn is named for the Walpole River, discovered in 1831 by Captain Thomas Bannister
Thomas Bannister
Thomas Bannister was a soldier and explorer in Western Australia. He was born in Steyning, Sussex in 1799, and arrived in Western Australia in 1829, age 30, with the rank of Captain aboard the Atwick with 3 servants from London, England...
, and named by Governor Stirling
James Stirling (Australian governor)
Admiral Sir James Stirling RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. His enthusiasm and persistence persuaded the British Government to establish the Swan River Colony and he became the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia...
for Captain W. Walpole, with whom he had served aboard HMS Warspite in 1808.
The first European settler
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
s to arrive in the area was Pierre Bellanger and his family in 1909. They travelled aboard the Grace Darling from Albany
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
to take up 4000 acres (16.2 km²) of land.
Land in the Walpole area was reserved for a national park in 1910, and the area subsequently became a popular holiday destination.
Major development began to occur in the 1930s as part of the land settlement scheme.
The railway reached Nornalup
Nornalup, Western Australia
Nornalup is a small town located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. The town is located along the South Coast Highway and on the banks of the Frankland River. The name derives from the local indigenous language: "Place of the Black Snake" - Norne - meaning "black snake" -up meaning...
in 1929, and the Walpole town site was gazetted in 1933.
Walpole was always the preferred name, but it was believed this was already in use in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. So the newly-gazetted township was officially named Nornalup, but this caused confusion with the railway terminus 13 kilometres east. Eventually the Post Office advised that there was no Walpole in Tasmania, and in 1934 the town reverted to its original name of Walpole.
Walpole is one of the few towns through which the Bibbulmun Track
Bibbulmun Track
The Bibbulmun Track is a long distance walk trail in Western Australia. It runs from Kalamunda, east of Perth to Albany and is almost 1000 km long...
passes.
The area is famous for the giant tingle
Eucalyptus jacksonii
The Red Tingle of south west Western Australia is one of the tallest trees in the state and can measure up to 24 metres round at the base and grow to a height of 75 metres and live for up to 400 years....
and karri
Karri
Eucalyptus diversicolor, commonly known as the Karri, is a eucalypt which is native to the wetter regions of south west of Western Australia.-Description:...
trees of old growth forest
Old growth forest
An old-growth forest is a forest that has attained great age , and thereby exhibits unique ecological features. An old growth forest has also usually reached a climax community...
. Another attraction is the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park
Walpole-Nornalup National Park
Walpole-Nornalup National Park is a national park in the South West region of Western Australia , 355 km south of Perth. It is famous for its towering Karri and Tingle trees. Red Tingle trees are unique to the Walpole area.-Tourism:...
.