Dwellingup, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dwellingup Western Australia
Dwellingup History and Visitor Information Centre
Established	1910
Postcode(s)	6213
Elevation	267 m (876 ft)
Area	[convert: needs a number]
Location	97 km (60 mi) S of Perth
LGA(s)	Shire of Murray
State electorate(s)	Murray-Wellington
Federal Division(s)	Canning
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 21.9 °C 71 °F 9.6 °C 49 °F 1,233.0 mm 48.5 in
Localities around Dwellingup: Teesdale Holyoake Holyoake Teesdale Dwellingup Marradong Nanga Brook Nanga Brook Etmilyn

Dwellingup is a small town in Western Australia. It is located in a beautiful area with lots of timber (wood) and fruit farms. You can find it in the Darling Range, which is a range of hills. In 2011, about 383 people lived in Dwellingup.

What's in a Name?

The name Dwellingup has an interesting story! Surveyors first looked at this spot in 1909. They were planning a railway line nearby. They suggested names like "Dwellingerup" or "Marrinup" after local brooks (small streams).

The Surveyor General, H.F. Johnston, chose "Dwellingupp." This was because he was given the wrong spelling for Dwellingerup Brook. Even though someone suggested changing it to "Dwellingdown," the name "Dwellingup" was approved in December 1909. The town was officially named "Dwellingupp" in February 1910. Later, in 1915, the spelling was changed to "Dwellingup."

"Dwellingup" is an Aboriginal name. It is believed to mean "place of nearby water." It can also mean "on and by the whole place there is fog, dew, and mist."

Facing Bushfires

Dwellingup has faced some very serious bushfires. In 1961, one of Western Australia's worst bushfires happened. Many small towns nearby were destroyed. In Dwellingup itself, 132 houses were lost. Luckily, no one died, but 800 people lost their homes. The town was bravely rebuilt after this disaster.

More serious bushfires hit Dwellingup again in February 2007. Sixteen houses were destroyed this time. Thousands of hectares (a hectare is about the size of a rugby field) of private land and forest were burned. Again, no lives were lost.

Bauxite Mining Nearby

Dwellingup is close to one of the biggest bauxite mines in the world. This mine is called Huntly. Bauxite is a type of rock that is used to make aluminium. The bauxite from Huntly is sent to factories in Pinjarra and Kwinana. These factories turn the bauxite into aluminium.

Fun Things to Do

Dwellingup has many cool places and activities for visitors and locals!

• Nanga Bush Camp: This is a popular camp for older primary school and high schools students. Kids can enjoy activities like water rafting, night watching, swimming, and bush walks.
• Hotham Valley Railway: You can take a fun train ride here! A special Dwellingup Forest Ranger Tour runs from May to October. This train is pulled by a steam engine between Pinjarra and Dwellingup.
• Skate Park and Pump Track: If you love skateboarding or riding bikes, Dwellingup has a skate park and a pump track for you.
• Outdoor Trails:
  • The Munda Biddi Bike Trail is a long trail perfect for cycling adventures.
  • The Captain Fawcett 4WD Trail is for people who enjoy off-road driving in four-wheel-drive vehicles.
• Bibbulmun Track: This is a very long walking trail that passes right through Dwellingup. It's great for hikers who want to explore the beautiful natural areas.

Weather in Dwellingup

Dwellingup is one of the wettest places in Western Australia where people live. It gets over 1,200 millimeters of rain each year on average. It has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.