Dwellingup
Typical small timber and service town
Dwellingup is located 97 km south of Perth. It is a small settlement situated on top of an escarpment and, as a typical timber town, is surrounded by a state forest. Not surprisingly nearly all the houses in town are built of wood.

The Dwellingup area wasn't settled by Europeans until the late nineteenth century when it was opened up by timber cutters eager to exploit the jarrah, blackbutt and marri in the area. The timber was shipped out of the area through the port at Rockingham.

A Government railway was built from Pinjarra to Dwellingup in 1910 and a cooperative of sleeper cutters, the South West Timber Hewers Co-operative Society Ltd, was established to extract timber from 20 000 acres which became known as Holyoake.

A number of small timber settlements - Holyoake, Nanga Brook, Marrinup, Chadoora - grew up in the area at this time but Dwellingup became the most important centre with a hotel, a doctor, two butchers, a baker and a saddler.

In 1918 the forests around Dwellingup became part of the State Forest and consequently the town became a centre for forest management and research.

The town was virtually destroyed in 1961 when lightning started a bushfire which lasted for five days,damaged 140 000 ha of forest, and wiped out many of the smaller timber towns. The fire eventually was burning on a 16 km front. It destroyed Nanga Brook, Holyoake, Marrinup, Banksiadale and Dwellingup. Of all the towns damaged by the bushfire only Dwellingup was rebuilt.

The great appeal of the area now is that it is relatively close to Perth and there are many recreation areas (barbecue and picnic locations) which provide ideal venues for city dwellers eager to escape from suburbia for a day.

Things to see:  

Hotham Valley Tourist Railway
The major attraction in the area is the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway. The promotional brochure describes the Dwellingup Forest Ranger Tour, which operates about 20 times a year between May and October, as follows: 'Steam Hauled Picnic Trains. Re-live the age of steam on Western Australia's most famous Sunday picnic trains along the beautifully scenic Hotham Valley Railway. WA's steepest and most spectacular section of railway. Travel through lush green dairy country and in Spring view a magnificent display of wildflowers before climbing the Darling Range into the heart of the jarrah forest.

'Enjoy two hours in the pleasant surrounds of our picnic ground complete with full barbecue facilities, already lit specially for your use. A kiosk serving light refreshments and country style cakes is at the station.

'The train, which travels from Perth, is steam hauled between Pinjarra and Dwellingup with two magnificent W Class 'mountain type' steam engines to lift the train over the steep grades. It features our new Riverland coaches with a choice of luxurious first class and comfortable tourist class accommodation.' For more details contact (08) 9221 4444.

When the train is not running the rolling stock is housed at the depot in Dwellingup. It can be inspected by railway enthusiasts. Contact the Murray Tourist Centre on (08) 9531 1438.

Etmilyn Forest Heritage Trail
The Hotham Valley Railway is actually part of the area's Heritage Trail. The unusual Etmilyn Forest Heritage Trail combines a 75 minute train journey which departs from Dwellingup Railway station at 2.00 p.m. Wednesday - Sunday and travels via Holyoake to the siding at Etmilyn with a 30 minute nature trail at Etmilyn which passes through stands of blackbutt, jarrah, blackboys, red gum, and banksia. Contact (08) 9421 1908 or the Murray Tourist Centre for up to date information.

Marrinup Forest Tour
CALM have produced an excellent booklet titled Marrinup Forest Tour which is a magnificent and well organised journey through the forest offering opportunities to study the changes which have occurred and the problems which conservation organisations face.

Other Attractions
Other attractions in the area include the Lane Poole Reserve, a 54 000 ha area between Dwellingup and Collie with picnic facilities and interesting walking trails, and the Athlone Angora Goat Stud which is 7 km west of Dwellingup on the Pinjarra Road. The stud has a range of angora souvenirs as well as conducted farm tours.

Dwellingup Pharmacy Museum
The Dwellingup Pharmacy Museum at 52 McLarty Street has extensive displays of old pharmaceuticals and chemist's equipment. It is open when the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway is operating. At other times it can be opened by contacting the Dwellingup General Store.

	Tourist Information
	Dwellingup History & Visitor Information Centre Narrinup St Dwellingup WA 6213 Telephone: (08) 9538 1108 Facsimile: (08) 9538 1332
	Hotels
	Dwellingup Community Hotel Marrinup St Dwellingup WA 6213 Telephone: (08) 9538 1056
	Lodges & Chalets
	Berryvale Lodge 1082 Williams-Pinjarra Rd Dwellingup WA 6213 Telephone: (08) 9538 1239
	Dwellingup Bunkhouses & Chalet Vandals Rd Dwellingup WA 6213 Telephone: (08) 9538 1314
	Caravan Parks
	Dwellingup Chalets & Caravan Park Del Park Rd Dwellingup WA 6213 Telephone: (08) 9538 1157 Facsimile: (08) 9538 1072
	Camping & Other
	Baden Powell Camping Facility 10km south of Dwellingup Dwellingup WA 6213 Telephone: (08) 9538 1001
	Lane-Pool Reserve camping 10km south of Dwellingup Dwellingup WA 6213 Telephone: (08) 9538 1001
	Nanga Mill Camping Facility 15km south of Dwellingup Dwellingup WA 6213 Telephone: (08) 9538 1001
	Tonys Bend Camping Facility 18km south of Dwellingup Dwellingup WA 6213 Telephone: (08) 9538 1001
	Restaurants
	Dwellingup Hotel Marrinup St Dwellingup WA 6213 Telephone: (08) 9538 1056
	Dwellingup Restaurant & Takeaway McLarty St Dwellingup WA 6213 Telephone: Ph (08) 9538 1372