13-465: William Bay National Park is a national park in the Great Southern region of Western Australia , 369 km (229 mi) southeast of Perth and between the towns of Denmark and Walpole . Situated approximately 15 km (9 mi) west of Denmark, William Bay National Park covers 1,734 ha (4,280 acres) and includes Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks . The granite boulders create
26-646: 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 Cranbrook The Shire of Cranbrook
39-675: A natural reef which protects Greens Pool from the Great Southern Ocean , and a safe swimming beach for children who are under supervision. William Bay National Park is located along the south coast of Western Australia along the Rainbow Coast , and is in the Shire of Denmark . The park also contains areas of peppermint scrub, dense heathland, pockets of karri forest, Eucalyptus woodlands, Parry Inlet, lakes, tall hills with granite tors and outcrops. Coastal areas at
52-474: 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
65-766: A survey conducted in 2008. 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 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
78-426: Is a local government area in the Great Southern region of Western Australia , about 92 kilometres (57 mi) north of Albany and about 320 kilometres (200 mi) south-southeast of the state capital, Perth . The Shire covers an area of 3,277 square kilometres (1,265 sq mi), and its seat of government is the town of Cranbrook . The Cranbrook Road District was gazetted on 14 May 1926 out of parts of
91-584: Is another popular activity to enjoy the views with numerous tracks around the park. The traditional owners of the area are the Mineng people; Aboriginal Australians have inhabited the area for between 40,000 and 50,000 years. Artefacts including pieces of stone tools have been found in the park at Lights Beach, Lake Byleveld and Parry Inlet. William Bay was named after the famed British Arctic explorer and navigator, Sir William Edward Parry , as were two other nearby features, Parry Inlet and Edward Point. The bay
104-716: The Koreng people, also of the Noongar nation. The shire is divided into 3 wards, each with 3 councillors: The towns and localities of the Shire of Cranbrook with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census : As of 2023, 35 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Cranbrook, of which one is on the State Register of Heritage Places , the Tenterden Agricultural Hall,
117-652: The Plantagenet and Tambellup road districts. On 1 July 1961, it became a Shire following changes to the Local Government Act, which reformed all remaining road boards into shires. The majority of the Shire of Cranbrook is located on the traditional land of the Kaniyang people of the Noongar nation. The far eastern part of the shire, east of Cranbrook itself, is located on the traditional lands of
130-433: The eastern side of the park include Greens Pool, Elephant Rocks, Madfish Bay and Madfish Island, Waterfall Beach. The wilder and less dramatic features along the coast of the western side include Parry Beach, Parry Inlet, Mazoletti Beach and Hillier Bay. Fishing is popular along the rocks and beaches, with many different species found, including King George whiting , herring , Australian salmon and mulloway . Bushwalking
143-550: 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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#1732798306086156-409: The park area and surrounds include several species of honeyeaters , white-breasted robins , red-eared fire tails , western rosella and red-capped parrot . Migratory waterbirds that visit the park include the threatened species; Australasian bittern , hooded plover and little bittern . The rare and ancient assassin spider , currently listed as threatened , was found to inhabit the park during
169-468: Was named in the 1830s by John Septimus Roe . The area was declared as a national park in 1971 with an area of 4,644 acres (1,879 ha). A small reserve with an area of 29.5 ha (73 acres) located near the north east end of the park that encompasses Lake Bylveld was added to the park in the 1980s. The park is a popular tourist destination, with 137,000 visitors in 2006–2007, 208,000 in 2010-2011 and 238,000 visitors in 2014–2015. Birds found within
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