County Peak facts for kids
County Peak, also known as Mount Quajabin or Quajabin Peak, is a special mountain in Western Australia. You can find it about 120 kilometers (about 75 miles) south-east of Perth, in an area known as the West Australian Wheatbelt. Even though it's not super tall, it offers amazing views of the surrounding land.
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Its Original Name: Quajabin
Before Europeans arrived, the Noongar Aboriginal people lived in this area. They called the mountain Quajabin. This name comes from the Noongar word quabin, which means "good camp." It shows that this place was important to them long ago.
Amazing Views from the Peak
From the top of County Peak, you can see far and wide! You'll get a great view of parts of the Avon River and also the Yenyening Lakes. You can even see parts of seven different shires (which are like local government areas or districts):
- Beverley
- Brookton
- Pingelly
- Corrigin
- Quairading
- Kelleberrin
- York
How County Peak Got Its English Name
The name "County Peak" was given to the mountain in 1829. This was when the first surveyors were mapping out the land for the Swan River Colony. At that time, County Peak was a special spot where four different "counties" met. These counties were:
Today, these old counties have been divided into smaller local government areas called shires.
Early European Settlement
European settlers first came to this area in 1898. The pioneering McLean brothers—Kenneth, Donald Jr., John, and Thomas—were among the first. They chose their land, including County Peak, by looking for tree lines that showed rich, fertile soil. This land was given to them as payment for their hard work.
From 1910 to 1933, a school called the County Peak School taught the children of the settlers living in the district.
