- Capel, Western Australia
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Capel
Western AustraliaPopulation: 2,151 (2006 Census) [1] Established: 1897 Postcode: 6271 Elevation: 19 m (62 ft) Location: LGA: Shire of Capel State District: Collie-Preston Federal Division: Forrest Coordinates: 33°33′25″S 115°33′58″E / 33.557°S 115.566°E
Capel is a town in the South West region of Western Australia, located 212 kilometres south of Perth and midway between Bunbury and Busselton.
The town is located on the Capel River and is approximately 19 m above sea level. Capel has a Mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers and cool wet winters. Daily temperatures range from 13 °C to 40 °C in summer, and from 5 °C to 27 °C in winter. Average annual rainfall is about 830 mm.
Historically, Capel is a farming area; traditional agricultural pursuits include dairy and beef. In recent times, Capel has become popular for hobby farms, and a number of innovative agricultural pursuits have been introduced, including alpacas, viticulture, aquaculture and growing of blue gums. There is also some mining of mineral sands in the Shire, and tourism is increasingly important to the Shire's economy.
The Capel area was settled very early in the history of colonial Western Australia. The Capel River was discovered by Frederick Ludlow in 1834, but it was not named until the Bussell family settled in the area. The name honours a cousin of the Bussells, Miss Capel Carter. In the 1830s a number of settlers followed the Bussells into the area, and both James Stirling and John Hutt, (the first two Governors of Western Australia) took up land in the region. Plans to establish a townsite in the area were first mooted in 1844, but the site was not surveyed until the 1870s and lots were not sold until 1897. Initially the town was named Coolingnup, which is the Noongar Aboriginal name for the place; the name was changed to Capel in 1899.[2]
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Capel (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC53416&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ^ 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.
External links
Towns in the South West region of Western Australia Major centres Bunbury · Busselton · Collie · Dunsborough · Harvey · Manjimup · Margaret River
Towns Acton Park · Alexandra Bridge · Allanson · Augusta · Balingup · Benger · Binningup · Boyanup · Boyup Brook · Bramley · Bridgetown · Brookhampton · Brunswick Jn. · Burekup · Capel · Carbunup River · Chowerup · Cookernup · Cowaramup · Cundinup · Dardanup · Deanmill · Dingup · Dinninup · Donnelly River · Donnybrook · Elgin · Ferguson · Forest Grove · Forrest Beach · Gnarabup · Gracetown · Greenbushes · Hester · Jardee · Jarrahwood · Karridale · Kirup · Kudardup · Kulikup · Ludlow · Mayanup · Metricup · Mullalyup · Myalup · Nannup · Nornalup · Northcliffe · Nyamup · Pemberton · Peppermint Grove Beach · Prevelly · Quindalup · Quinninup · Roelands · Rosa Brook · Shotts · Stratham · Uduc · Vasse · Walpole · Waterloo · Wilga · Windy Harbour · Witchcliffe · Wokalup · Wonnerup · Worsley · Yallingup · Yarloop · Yornup
Categories:- Towns in Western Australia
- South West (Western Australia)
- Mining towns in Western Australia
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