14-573: The Denmark River is located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia . The river rises near Pardelup and meanders in a southerly direction until it flows through Denmark into Wilson Inlet (along with the Hay River ). The traditional owners of the area are the Noongar people, who know the river as Kwoorabup , meaning the place of the western brush wallaby (place we return to). The river
28-628: A bridge, and today with Kalgan Queen which lowers its roof to pass beneath the same bridge. Noongar people have inhabited the region for tens of thousands of years. European settlement began with the establishment of a temporary British military base, commanded by Major Edmund Lockyer , at King George Sound (Albany) on Christmas Day, 1826. Albany is consequently regarded as the oldest European settlement in Western Australia. 35°S 117°E / 35°S 117°E / -35; 117 Shire of Kent The Shire of Kent
42-624: A management plan of the Shire of Denmark in 2011. The ceremonial site has been used by Noongar people for over 10,000 years as a place of dance, song, marriage preparation, initiation and food gathering. The area has high cultural significance due largely to its totemic significance and creation by the Wagyl in the Dreaming. Historically the Denmark River's water quality declined as a result of land clearing in
56-467: A population of about 54,000. Its administrative centre is the historic port of Albany . It has a Mediterranean climate , with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The Stirling Range is the only place in Western Australia that regularly receives snowfalls , if only very light. The economy of the Great Southern is dominated by livestock farming, dairy farming and crop -growing. It has some of
70-448: A reversal in salinity trends, and that it is possible that the river could provide drinking quality water in the future. By 2012 average annual salinity levels had dropped to 470 mg/L, below World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water for the first time in nearly 40 years. The improved water quality means Denmark Dam has been returned as a drinking water source and back-up water supply for Denmark. The drop in salinity
84-415: Is a local government area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia , about 320 kilometres (200 mi) southeast of Perth , the state capital. The Shire covers an area of 5,634 square kilometres (2,175 sq mi) and its seat of government is the town of Nyabing . The area produces grains such as wheat, barley and legumes. The Kent Road District was established on 22 December 1922. It
98-509: Is located on the traditional land of the Koreng people of the Noongar nation. Following a redistribution in 2002, the Shire has been divided into four wards, each with two councillors: The towns and localities of the Shire of Kent with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census : As of 2021, 73 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Kent, of which none are on
112-512: Is mainly attributed to the revegetation of previously cleared farmland with Tasmanian blue gum plantations. 34°57′42.99″S 117°21′40.88″E / 34.9619417°S 117.3613556°E / -34.9619417; 117.3613556 Great Southern (Western Australia) The Great Southern region is one of the nine regions of Western Australia , as defined by the Regional Development Commissions Act 1993 , for
126-467: The 39th Regiment , while his ship Governor Phillips was being repaired at King George Sound . A surveyor noted in 1833 that the local Aboriginal people, the Noongar, called the river "Koorrabup" meaning "place of the black swan ". The river flows through Denmark Pipehead Dam. The two tributaries of the river are Scotsdale Brook and Cleerillup Creek. The southern portion of the river was protected under
140-509: The catchment area since European settlement. It is estimated that 40% of the river's upper catchment area was cleared and as a result salinity levels increased from 40 mg/L in the 1940s to a peak of 1520 mg/L in 1987 at the Mt Lindesay gauging station. In 2004 it was announced that salinity levels in the river were decreasing, believed to be the first major river in Australia that had shown
154-544: The most productive cereal grain and pastoral land in the state, and is a major producer of wool and lamb . Albany is a major fishing centre. The coast of the Great Southern has milder summer weather than areas on the west coast proper and is also a popular destination for holidaymakers, tourists , anglers and surfers . Albany is home to the Kalgan River which is associated with riverboats , from 1918 to 1935 with Silver Star which lowered its funnel to get under
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#1732891125954168-453: The purposes of economic development. It is a section of the larger south coast of Western Australia and neighbouring agricultural regions. The region officially comprises the local government areas of Albany , Broomehill-Tambellup , Cranbrook , Denmark , Gnowangerup , Jerramungup , Katanning , Kent , Kojonup , Plantagenet and Woodanilling . The Great Southern has an area of 39,007 square kilometres (15,061 sq mi) and
182-742: Was given its English name in December 1829 by naval ship's surgeon Thomas Braidwood Wilson after his mentor, naval surgeon Alexander Denmark, Physician of the Fleet, Resident Physician at the Royal Hospital Haslar , and past-Physician to the Mediterranean Fleet. Wilson found the river while exploring the area in company of the native Mokare, John Kent (officer in charge of the Commissariat at King George Sound), two convicts and Private William Gough of
196-605: Was renamed the Nyabing-Pingrup Road District on 10 June 1955. It was declared a shire as the Shire of Nyabing-Pingrup with effect from 1 July 1961 following the passage of the Local Government Act 1960 , which reformed all remaining road districts into shires. It reverted to its previous name of Kent and became the Shire of Kent on 1 December 1972. The name "Kent" comes from the commissariat officer of Dr T. Wilson’s expedition of 1829. The Shire of Kent
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