Tambellup is situated 328km south-east of Perth and has a population of 675 people. It is in the heart of a mixed grain and sheep farming belt and falls within the Local Government boundary of the Shire of Broomehill Tambellup.

The name Gnowangerup is derived from the Aboriginal word ‘Ngow,’ meaning Malleefowl. For thousands of years, the plains around Gnowangerup were home to the Goreng Noongars, evidenced by stone implements still found along the creeks.

Nyabing was gazetted as a town in 1912 after the Katanning railway line was extended. Nyabing was originally known as Nampup, after the aboriginal name given to the soak in the area.

The town of Pingrup was officially gazetted on 9 May 1924 and was named Pingrup after Lake Pingrup which is close to the townsite.

The name Ongerup is derived from ‘Yonga’ the Noongar word meaning male kangaroo and ‘up,’ meaning ‘place of’. Ongerup began to be settled in 1910 when the land was opened up to farming and surveyed into 1,000-acre blocks. 

Borden was gazetted as a town in 1916. The name was proposed by the Secretary for Railways as the name of a siding on the then-new Tambellup-Ongerup Railway.

Bluff Knoll is the third highest and one of the most spectacular peaks in Western Australia, reaching 1095m above sea level.

The area was first settled in the 1860s when pastoralists started grazing sheep near Round Swamp. With its mild temperatures and good rainfall, it was ideal sheep country.

In the late 1850s farming leases were bought in the area after an overland route was established between Perth and Albany. The Cranbrook area developed into a productive wool and agricultural area.

Frankland River was named by the surgeon Dr Thomas Braidwood Wilson in 1829. He named Frankland River after George Frankland (1800-38), who was the Surveyor General in Van Diemen’s Land in 1829.

Rocky Gully was developed as part of the resettlement schemes post World War II along with Perillup and then later at Denbarker.

This small farming community was once a thriving town with a school and general store. Many of the present farming families are descended from the pioneers of the district.

Just 3 hours south of Perth you will discover a thriving country town that offers visitors the opportunity to experience Australia’s rural way of life that is also steeped in history. Explore this bustling rural town with its historic buildings and friendly atmosphere.

The town of Woodanilling was first gazetted in 1892, not far from the watering hole called Round Pool. Woodanilling is a Noongar Aboriginal word meaning place of little fishes.

Katanning is thought to come from an Aboriginal word ‘Kartannin’ meaning ‘big meeting place’ and it still holds true to this meaning in the 21st century, as the largest town in the Upper Great Southern servicing many surrounding towns. 

The town of Broomehill was established after the completion of the Great Southern Railway in 1889. Prior to this, Eticup, a coach stop on the old Albany Road (now Broomehill-Kojonup Road) was the only town in the area.