Cowaramup, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Cowaramup is a town in the South West of Western Australia
, 12 kilometres north of Margaret River
in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.
railway. The townsite was gazetted in 1925, originally to support the timber and dairy industries.
The name is believed to be derived from Aboriginal
word "Cowara", meaning Purple-crowned Lorikeet
. Locals from the region often refer to the town as 'Cowtown', a reference to the use of 'cow' in the town's name and its history of dairy farming
.
. It is the closest townsite to a number of wineries and other specialty producers including Vasse Felix
, Howard Park and Madfish Winery
, the Margaret River Chocolate Factory, and The Margaret River Cheese Company. The town is close to Cowaramup Bay, a popular swimming and surfing beach. As such a large number of tourists to the region pass through and visit the town and play an important role in the local economy.
The town centre consists of a local store providing basic produce, a post office, a bakery, a fruit & veg shop, a real estate agent and farm agency, a service station/workshop, a liquor store, a social club, parkland and various specialty stores selling everything from gourmet produce, candies and arts and crafts to computing goods. Accommodation in or near the town consists of the Taunton Farm Caravan Park, a bed and breakfast and various chalets and cottages in the area. There is one restaurant and two cafes in the town as well as numerous others on nearby winery properties. The town has one primary and pre-primary school, a town oval and tennis club, BMX track and a bowling green. The nearest high school and university campuses are in Margaret River
. Police and fire services are based in Margaret River and Busselton.
Most residents live in the townsite and surrounding rural properties, including one remaining dairy farm. The local government administration is the Margaret River Shire Council and the local newspapers are the Augusta Margaret River Times and the Augusta Margaret River Mail. The town is built on Noongar
Aboriginal
traditional land.
, which serves as the major link to other towns in the area, as well as Perth
, the state capital.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, 12 kilometres north of Margaret River
Margaret River, Western Australia
Margaret River is a town in the South West of Western Australia, located in the valley of the eponymous Margaret River, south of Perth, the state capital. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River....
in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.
Name
The name Cowaramup derives its name from Cowaramup Siding, which was located near the townsite, on the now disused Busselton to AugustaFlinders Bay Branch Railway
A branch railway from Busselton to Flinders Bay, in South Western Western AustraliaOriginally part of the M.C.Davies Timber railway system, which ran between the two jetties at Hamelin Bay and Flinders Bay...
railway. The townsite was gazetted in 1925, originally to support the timber and dairy industries.
The name is believed to be derived from Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
word "Cowara", meaning Purple-crowned Lorikeet
Purple-crowned Lorikeet
The Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Glossopsitta porphyrocephala, is a lorikeet found in scrub and mallee of southern Australia...
. Locals from the region often refer to the town as 'Cowtown', a reference to the use of 'cow' in the town's name and its history of dairy farming
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
.
Description
Cowaramup is roughly central to the Margaret River Wine RegionMargaret River (wine region)
Margaret River is the foremost Geographical Indication wine region in the South West Australia Zone, with nearly 5,500 hectares under vine and over 138 wineries as at 2008. Margaret River wine region is made up predominately of boutique size wine producers; although winery operations range from the...
. It is the closest townsite to a number of wineries and other specialty producers including Vasse Felix
Vasse Felix
Vasse Felix was the first vineyard and winery established in the Margaret River Wine Region. Established in Cowaramup in 1967 by Dr Tom Cullity, Vasse Felix is recognised as a pioneer of the Region.-Wines:...
, Howard Park and Madfish Winery
Howard Park Wines
Howard Park Wines is Western Australia's largest family-owned winery owned by the Burch family, which is responsible for such brands as Howard Park, MadFish, and Marchand & Burch. With two established Wineries based in both Margaret River, Western Australia and Denmark in the Great Southern...
, the Margaret River Chocolate Factory, and The Margaret River Cheese Company. The town is close to Cowaramup Bay, a popular swimming and surfing beach. As such a large number of tourists to the region pass through and visit the town and play an important role in the local economy.
The town centre consists of a local store providing basic produce, a post office, a bakery, a fruit & veg shop, a real estate agent and farm agency, a service station/workshop, a liquor store, a social club, parkland and various specialty stores selling everything from gourmet produce, candies and arts and crafts to computing goods. Accommodation in or near the town consists of the Taunton Farm Caravan Park, a bed and breakfast and various chalets and cottages in the area. There is one restaurant and two cafes in the town as well as numerous others on nearby winery properties. The town has one primary and pre-primary school, a town oval and tennis club, BMX track and a bowling green. The nearest high school and university campuses are in Margaret River
Margaret River, Western Australia
Margaret River is a town in the South West of Western Australia, located in the valley of the eponymous Margaret River, south of Perth, the state capital. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River....
. Police and fire services are based in Margaret River and Busselton.
Most residents live in the townsite and surrounding rural properties, including one remaining dairy farm. The local government administration is the Margaret River Shire Council and the local newspapers are the Augusta Margaret River Times and the Augusta Margaret River Mail. The town is built on Noongar
Noongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
traditional land.
Transport
Cowaramup is located on the Bussell HighwayBussell Highway
Bussell Highway is a generally north-south highway in the South West of Western Australia. The highway links the city of Bunbury with the town of Augusta and is approximately 150 km in length...
, which serves as the major link to other towns in the area, as well as Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, the state capital.