DESCRIPTION
Described as 'a small but vibrant village', Balingup sits on the South Western Highway between Kirup and Greenbushes.
There are a number of attractions and events in the area that account for the large number of accommodation options available.
The town is surrounded by rolling hills, old growth forests and winding rivers and makes a perfect getaway in either the colder or warmer months of the year.
Old Cheese Factory
This has been converted into and arts and crafts centre and is one of the main tourist attractions in the area.
Golden Valley Tree Park.
This park was established in 1981 and covers 60 hectares. There are over 5,000 trees from all round the world in the park and a walk
trail leads you on a 40 minute walk. The park is divided into two sections with the eastern portion housing the exotic species and
the western section housing the Australian species. Originally used as farm land, there had been a proposal to establish a pine
plantation here but local opposition to this saw an arboretum established instead. Toilets, picnic tables and BBQ are available
in the park for visitors to enjoy.
The walk is part of the Bibbulmun Track and is marked with yellow trail markers.
Balingup - Grimwade walk trail
This is a 4 kilometre (one way) long trail starting at the general store north to Grimwade. The walk is also part of the Bibbulmun Track and is signposted with a black waugal on a yellow triangle background. What is a waugal? A waugal is an Aboriginal totem and is symbolised by a snake. (Waugal is pronounced woggle.)
A Medieval Carnivale held in Balingup has become a very popular event. It is held on the 4th weekend each August. Another event that
is popular is the Small Farm Field Day that is usually held in April.
Nearby forests contain the much talked about 'magic mushrooms'.
Find out more about Balingup at the Balingup Tourism Website.
HISTORY
Parties of explorers journeyed through this area from the 1840s.
The first person to settle in the area was Richard Jones who took up 10 acres in 1854. He built a mud brick house that became Southampton
Homestead. Sadly it was destroyed by a bushfire in 2013. (Walter Padbury)
arrived in 1859. Other settlers soon followed and a small settlement developed at Balingup Brook.
The poet Adam Lindsay Gordon ran sheep in the area in the 1860s.
Jacob Hawter established, what was then, the l;argest orchard in the state in 1895.
The town site was gazetted in 1898 after the proposed town site was purchased from a private owner in 1896 and then subdivided in 1897.
The name is thought to have originated form an Aboriginal warrior called Baliongan.
A rail link to Donnybrook was completed in 1893. Today the local industries include timber, fruit, sheep and dairy cattle.
Fred and Mary Robinson established the Universal Brotherhood commune in 1975 on the Brooklands property.
TALL TALES AND TRUE
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OTHER INFORMATION
ATTRACTIONS
Old Cheese Factory, Golden Valley Tree Park, Bird Wood Fruit Winery, Ellendale Gallery, Forrest Antiques, Tinder Box, Ridgewood Deer Farm,
Shannondale Donkey Park, The Village Pedlar, Racecourse flora reserve, Museum Located in the Packing Shed, Lavendar Farm, Jalbrook Gallery,
Trail bike park.
BUILDINGS OF NOTE
Old cheese factory, Ferndale 1859, Golden Valley 1880-1904, Blackwood Inn 1864.
ELECTORAL ZONES
State : Collie-Preston
Federal : Forrest
OTHER INFO.
Postcode : 6253
Local Government : Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup
PHOTOS
Hover over pics in gallery to enlarge.
