The park beside the Denmark River

Denmark
Attractive resort town on the banks of the Denmark River
Denmark is located on the Denmark River 18 m above sea level and 414 km south of Perth. It is a popular and attractive resort noted for its excellent fishing, the diversity of landscape (from rugged coastline to tall timber country) and the quietness of an area which has not been over-developed or commercialised.

The first European to explore the district was Dr Thomas Braidwood Wilson in 1829. A surgeon with the Royal Navy Wilson decided to explore the land to the west of Albany while his ship was laid up in King George III Sound. The Wilson Inlet was named after him by Governor Stirling and Wilson named Denmark after a colleague, Dr Alexander Denmark.

Wilson's report on the area was favourable. 'The surrounding hills are of very fine soil and may be easily turned to good account', he declared. In 1831 Captain Thomas Bannister gave a more realistic account when he noted that it would require 'great physical and moral courage' to farm the area. Bannister's assessment was obviously the one which prevailed. It wasn't until 1884 that Edwin and Charles Millar took out timber leases in the Denmark area. From 1884–1889 they worked in the Torbay area between Albany and Denmark.

Denmark really became established as a town in 1895 when the Millar brothers built a number of timber mills on the banks of the Denmark River to process the giant karri trees which were felled inland and exported to Britain, China, India, Africa and South America where they were used for everything from paving blocks to wharf piles and telegraph poles. The town grew rapidly to handle the large labour force required to run the mills which, at their peak, were employing 750 men and producing 90 000 super feet of timber a day. At that rate of consumption the timber industry was bound to be short-lived. The mills only lasted from 1895–1905.

A few mill workers (probably no more than two or three families from a population of over 2000) stayed on after the mill closed. In 1907 the Western Australian government bought out all Millars interests in the town - the buildings, the mills and the railway. By 1911 dairying had taken over as the major industry in the area and in 1922 Denmark became part of the Group Settlement Scheme. It was far from successful with some of struggling group settlers actually marching to Albany to protest at their poor conditions.

Today the town's economy is sustained by a combination of tourism, timber, dairying, beef cattle and fishing. Tourism has become increasingly important since World War II. During the war American soldiers stationed in Albany would often make day trips to Denmark and this encouraged the establishment of tea rooms and souvenir shops.

Things to see:  

The Bandstand
One of the town's more unusual attractions is a bandstand located on the river bank with the seating for listeners on the other side of the river. The acoustics of the bandstand are such that the quality of sound which travels across the river is excellent.

Wineries in the area
The Denmark area, like so much of the South West, has a growing reputation for its wineries. The two best known wineries are Goundrey's in the Old Butter Factory which has wine tastings from 10.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and Tinglewood Wines in Glenrowan Road which is open seven days a week from 9.00 a.m - 5.00 p.m.

A beach near Greens Pool in William Bay National Park

Exploring the Coast
Denmark's great appeal lies in its proximity to some of the most beautiful coastline in the country. The easiest access points are Ocean Beach Road which runs south from the town to the mouth of Wilson Inlet, and William Bay National Park, 15 km west of Denmark, which has the delightful Green's Pool natural rock swimming pool as well as Tower Hill and the fishing spots at Madfish Bay. One of the highlights of the coast is the remarkable waterfall at Madfish Bay where tumbles over the cliffs and into the sea. The coastal views here are quite remarkable.

Denmark offers fishermen excellent facilities and the possibility of a good catch. On Ocean Beach (5 km south of the town), Parrys Beach (21 km west) and William Bay (17 km west) good fisherman can catch salmon, sampson fish, tailor, bay snapper, skippy, herring, whiting and silver bream.

Heritage Trails
The publication Heritage Trails in the Denmark District: Exploration and Settlement in the Tall Timber Country offers three trails in the area. There is the Mokare Heritage Trail, a 3 km walk along both sides of the Denmark river from the main road bridge to the old railway bridge. There is the Denmark Timber Heritage Trail, a 20 km drive, cycle of walk along Scotsdale Road which focuses on the timber industry which thrived in the area in the 1890s. This trail offers a fascinating insight into the establishment of the town and the way timber was extracted and processed. And there is the 9 km Wilson Inlet Heritage Trail which runs along Wilson Inlet from Ocean Beach Road to Crusoe Beach Road.

	Tourist Information
	Denmark Tourist Bureau 60 Strickland St Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 2055 Facsimile: (08) 9848 2271 Email: accommodation@westnet.com.au
	Motels
	Denmark Waterfront Motel & Hillside Cottages 63 Inlet Dve Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1147 Facsimile: (08) 9848 1147 Rating: ***1/2
	The Koorabup Motel South Coast Hwy Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1044, 1800 131 044 Facsimile: (08) 9848 3408 Rating: ***1/2
	Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
	Denmark Waters Bed & Breakfast 9 Inlet Dve Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1043 Facsimile: (08) 9848 2073 Rating: ****
	Denmark Seaview Farm Bed & Breakfast South Coast Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 2354
	Mt Lindsay Bed & Breakfast Mt Shadforth Tourist Dve Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1933, 0400 481 937 Facsimile: (08) 9848 1944 Rating: ****1/2
	Holiday Homes & Units
	Ayre Sailean Cnr Tindale Rd & South Coast Hwy Bow Bridge Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9840 8098 Facsimile: (08) 9840 8226 Rating: ****
	Celestine Retreat Cnr Mt Shadforth & Cussons Rds Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 3000 Facsimile: (08) 9848 3111 Rating: ****
	Denmark Tavern Holiday Units South Coast Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1044
	Kooringal Unit 6 Ridley Pl. Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 2107 Facsimile: (08) 9848 2107 Rating: ****
	Spring Bay Villas 6 Ocean Beach Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 2456
	The Coombe on Wilson Inlet 85 Minsterly Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9384 9895 Facsimile: (08) 9384 9895
	Cottages & Cabins
	Bambrey Green Cottage 3 Bambrey St Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1437 Facsimile: (08) 9848 1437 Rating: ****
	Bombina Cottages 349 Kearsley Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 2144 Facsimile: (08) 9848 2144
	Caddy Vale Cottage Cnr Ocean Beach & Campbell Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1609
	Hallowell Springs Cottage Lights Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1919 Facsimile: (08) 9848 2626 Rating: ****
	Misty Valley Country Cottages Lot 651 Scotsdale Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9840 939 Facsimile: (08) 9840 939
	Riverview Cottage 96 Scotsdale Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1873 Rating: ***
	The Peppermints Bed & Breakfast Farm Happy Valley Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9840 9305 Facsimile: (08) 9840 9485 Rating: ***1/2
	William Bay Country Cottages South Coast Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9840 9221 Facsimile: (08) 9840 9173 Rating: ****
	Farm & Eco Holidays
	Cinnamon Coloureds Farmstay 1017 South Coast Hwy Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1781 Facsimile: (08) 9848 1231
	Eaglemont Tourist Farm & Chalets McLeod Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9840 9302
	Kangaroo Valley Cottage Farmstay Lot 2A Lantzke Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 988 1710 Rating: ***1/2
	Rannoch West Holiday Farm South Coast Hwy Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9840 8032 Rating: ***1/2
	Lodges & Chalets
	Denmarks Ocean Beach Chalets Lot 51 Ocean Beach Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 2248 Rating: ****
	Gum Grove Chalets Ocean Beach Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1378 Rating: ***
	Karma Chalets Lot 411 Lapkos Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1568, 008 016 713 Facsimile: (08) 9848 2124 Rating: ****
	Karri Mia Country Lodge P.O. Box 50 Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 2255 Facsimile: (08) 9848 2277
	Caravan Parks
	Riverbend Chalets & Caravan Park Riverbend Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1107 Facsimile: (08) 9848 1107 Rating: ***
	Rivermouth Caravan Park Inlet Dve Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1262 Facsimile: (08) 9848 3362 Rating: ***
	Ocean Beach Caravan Park Ocean Beach Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1105
	Backpackers
	Blue Wren Travellers Rest 17 Price St Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 3300 Rating: ***1/2
	Camping & Other
	Little River Villas Maraveen Pl. Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1580 Rating: **
	Restaurants
	Blue Wren Cafe & Garden Restaurant South Coast Hwy Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1365
	Denmark Motel 55 Inlet Dve Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1147
	Denmark Motel & Hillside Cottages 63 Inlet Dve Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1147 Facsimile: (08) 9848 1965
	Figtree Bistro Strickland St Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 2051
	Karri Hi Chinese Restaurant South Coast Hwy Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1309
	Mary Rose Restaurant & Tea Shoppe North St Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1260
	Matilda's Meadow Winery & Restaurant Hamilton Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1951
	Mount Shadforth Lodge Motel Mount Shadforth Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 1555
	The Copenhagen Restaurant Holling Rd Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9848 2188
	The Poachers Hideaway Restaurant Cnr Roberts & Scottsdale Rds Denmark WA 6333 Telephone: (08) 9840 9132