Dwellingup, Western Australia

Dwellingup Western Australia
Dwellingup
Population:	346 (2006 Census)[1]
Established:	1910
Postcode:	6213
Elevation:	267 m (876 ft)
Location:	97 km (60 mi) south of Perth
LGA:	Shire of Murray
State District:	Murray-Wellington
Federal Division:	Canning
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 21.7 °C 71 °F 9.5 °C 49 °F 1,253.7 mm 49.4 in

Coordinates: 32°42′54″S 116°03′50″E / 32.715°S 116.064°E / -32.715; 116.064

Dwellingup is a town in Western Australia, located in a timber and fruitgrowing area in the Darling Range east-south-east of Pinjarra. At the 2006 census, Dwellingup had a population of 346.^[1]

Name

Townsite lots were surveyed at this place by Surveyor W.F. Rudall in 1909 after the Lands Department became aware that the site was planned as the terminus of the "Pinjarra-Marrinup Railway". Names suggested for the place by Rudall were "Dwellingerup" or "Marrinup", after nearby brooks, or "McLarty" after a local MLA who had been very active concerning the railway. Surveyor General H.F. Johnston chose "Dwellingupp" after being misinformed regarding the spelling of Dwellingerup Brook. Ignoring a suggestion from the Under Secretary to amend the name to "Dwellingdown", the Minister for Lands approved the name as "Dwellingup" in December 1909. Eventually, the spelling "Dwellingupp" was chosen by order of the Under Secretary for Lands, and the townsite was gazetted as Dwellingupp in February 1910. The spelling was amended to Dwellingup in 1915. Dwellingup is an Aboriginal name said to mean "place of nearby water".

Bushfires

In arguably Western Australia's worst bushfire, many small surrounding communities in the area were destroyed including 132 houses in Dwellingup itself in the fires of 1961. Fortunately there were no fatalities, but 800 people were left homeless. The town was rebuilt.[1]

Dwellingup experienced serious bushfires again over the weekend 3/4 February 2007. At least 14 houses were reported to have been destroyed. There was no loss of life. 

Bauxite mining

Dwellingup is near the largest bauxite mine in the world at Huntly ^[2] which supplies ore to the Pinjarra and Kwinana aluminium refineries.

Facilities

Dwellingup is also home to Nanga Bush Camp, a popular camp for senior primary schools & high schools. Some of the activities at Nanga Bush Camp include water rafting, night watching, a swimming area, and bush tracks etc.

See also

• Wagerup

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Dwellingup (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=UCL508200&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 9 July 2011. 
2. ^ http://www.alcoa.com/australia/en/info_page/mining_huntly_willowdale.asp

References

• Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names". http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+country+town+names. Retrieved 2007-06-08. 
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