Dunsborough, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids DunsboroughWestern Australia |
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 Dunsborough
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1879 |
| Postcode(s) | 6281 |
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Area | [convert: needs a number] |
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| LGA(s) | City of Busselton |
| State electorate(s) | Vasse |
| Federal Division(s) | Forrest |
Dunsborough is a cool coastal town in the South West of Western Australia. It's about 254 kilometres (158 mi) south of Perth, right on the beautiful Geographe Bay.
Dunsborough is a super popular spot for people visiting Western Australia. In 1999, it was even voted the state's best tourist place! It won another award in 2013 for towns with fewer than 5,000 people. The town is close to the famous Margaret River Wine Region. This means you can easily visit many wineries and breweries nearby. It's also a favorite place for students celebrating the end of school, known as "school leavers."
Contents
History of Dunsborough
First People of the Land
Long before Europeans arrived, different Aboriginal tribes lived around Dunsborough. The people living near the coast were called Wardandi. Their language was known as Burron Wongi. These Indigenous people called Dunsborough Quedjinup. This name means "Place of Women." The area just south of Dunsborough is still called Quedjinup today.
There are important Aboriginal heritage sites in the area:
- Caves Road – Naturaliste Road Roundabout: This large area has many old tools found there. These tools include flints, crystal quartz, and blades. They are between 8,000 and 12,000 years old! This site is protected by law.
- The Seymour Street Camping Grounds: This was a camping area for Aboriginal people. It was located near where the netball courts are now.
- Dunn Bay Road Ceremonial Ground: This was a special "law ground" for ceremonies. It brought traditional Wardandi people together for important meetings.
British Settlers Arrive
The modern town of Dunsborough gets its name from nearby Dunn Bay. This bay was named after Captain Richard Dalling Dunn. Governor James Stirling had worked with Captain Dunn a long time ago.
Land for a town was set aside here in the late 1830s. People were already whaling (hunting whales) at "Dunsbro" by 1850. When Dunsborough first appeared on a map in 1839, it was spelled "Dunnsbro." The extra "n" disappeared by 1850. The spelling changed to "borough" when the name became official on 29 April 1879.
In 1860, the Seymour family built the Seymour Homestead. They worked for the Castle Rock Whaling Company. Later, this house was moved to Millbrook Farm in Yallingup. In the 1920s, the Seymours built holiday cottages. These were some of the first holiday homes in the area. A general store opened in 1925. The town's first bakery started in 1930.
By the 1950s, about forty families lived in Dunsborough. The Old Dunsborough Hall opened in 1957. Dunsborough Primary School opened in 1963. Surfing became popular in the 1960s. Wine tourism in Margaret River grew in the mid-1980s. The town's population started to grow a lot from the late 1970s.
Fun Things to Do in Dunsborough
Dunsborough is famous for its beautiful beaches. It also has many great restaurants, cafes, and unique shops. These all attract lots of visitors. The town is also very close to some amazing natural places.
- Meelup Regional Park: This park includes the stunning Meelup Beach.
- Cape Naturaliste: This is a headland with a famous lighthouse.
- Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse: You can visit this lighthouse and enjoy amazing views.
- Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park: Both Cape Naturaliste and the lighthouse are part of this big national park.
- Cape to Cape Track: This long walking trail goes through the park.
- Ngari Capes Marine Park: This marine park is great for diving. It has the dive wreck of HMAS Swan.
- Margaret River Wine Region: Explore the many wineries and breweries nearby.
The CinefestOZ film festival also holds some events in Dunsborough. This happens in late August each year.
Getting Around Dunsborough
Caves Road and Cape Naturaliste Road are the main roads here. They are connected by a roundabout. Dunsborough has a public bus service, route 815. This is run by Swan Transit South West (TransBusselton). You can also catch coaches from South West Coach Lines and Transwa. These coaches connect Dunsborough to other towns in the South West and to Perth.
Schools in Dunsborough
Dunsborough has one government school, Dunsborough Primary School. There are also two private schools. These are Our Lady of the Cape Primary School and Dunsborough Christian College. Dunsborough Christian College teaches both primary and secondary students. It is located in Quedjinup.
Events in Dunsborough
Dunsborough hosts several fun events throughout the year:
- Dunsborough Arts Festival and Sculpture By The Bay
- Dunsborough Bay Fun Run
- Dunsborough Lions Easter Fair
- X-Adventure Dunsborough
