Torbay, Western Australia

Infobox Australian Place
type = town
name = Torbay
state = wa


caption = Torbay Hall
lga = Albany
postcode = 6330
est = 1910
pop = 267 (2006 Census) [Census 2006 AUS|id=SSC55731|name=Torbay (State Suburb)|quick=on|accessdate=2008-09-14]
elevation= 69
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall =
stategov = Albany
fedgov = O'Connor
dist1 = 430
dir1 = SSE
location1= Perth
dist2 = 20
dir2 = W
location2= Albany
dist3 =
dir3 =
location3= coord|-35.023|117.641|type:city(274)_region:AU-WA_scale:50000|format=dms|display=title

Torbay is a small township in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, 25 kilometres west of Albany. There is a crater on Mars named after it.cite web | url = http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/jsp/FeatureNameDetail.jsp?feature=66229 | title = Mars: Torbay | work = Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature | publisher = USGS | accessdate = 2007-02-11] The town is named after a bay on the coast that is south of the town, believed to be named by Governor James Stirling in 1831 after Tor Bay in Devon.The area was initally utilised for its timber and had a number of sawmills operating close by; in 1889 a railway was constructed and one of the stations was named Torbay. By 1889 most of the timber had been felled and removed and the government acquired the land from its owners, Millars Karri and Jarrah Forests Ltd.The land was subdivided and sold for agricultural purposes in 1900 but some was set aside for a townsite.The town of Torbay was gazetted in 1910.LandInfo WA|c|T|2007-02-11] Industries in the area include dairy farming, beef cattle, some specialist horticulture and arts and crafts, along with rural businesses that service farmers (mechanics, lime supply, machinery and labour hire etc). There is a regular market at the Torbay Hall. Torbay has an active Bush Fire Brigade unit, located also by the Torbay Hall. Children in the area usually attend schools in Albany, travelling there on regular school bus routes. There is a postal mail service to the area, delivered from Albany directly to driveway mailboxes three times a week. The postcode for Torbay is 6330.

Politically, Torbay is within the City of Albany local government area. At state government level it is in the South West region and the Albany electoral district.cite web | url = http://www.boundarieswa.com | title = Electorates and Boundaries | publisher = Western Australian Electoral Commission | accessdate = 2008-10-02]

The Torbay area is in the eastern fringe of the karri forest region, and several farms have notable blocks of remnant tall forest. Large granite outcrops are also common. Beaches on the bay tend towards fine white sand. Where streams occur, they are often clear but dark brown in colour from high-tannin-content vegetation.

The bay also called Torbay is located between the West Cape Howe National Park (where there is a point named "Torbay Head") - and the Torndirrup National Park. Popular beaches on the bay include Perkins Beach, Torbay Inlet and Cosy Corner. Cosy Corner is the most well known, a popular family beach with picnic facilities and a nearby store. Children's swimming lessons are held there in summertime. These beaches are all accessible by normal car, and there are more beaches that are 4WD access only. The Bibbulmun Track passes around the edge of the bay, coming down long steps from the steep hills above Cosy Corner and following the beach around the curve of the bay and across Torbay Inlet to near Muttonbird Island.

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