Denmark, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Denmark is a town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia
, 423 kilometres (262.8 mi) south-south-east of the state capital of Perth
. At the 2006 census
, Denmark had a population of 2,732.
The coast line of the Denmark area was observed for the first time in 1627 by the Dutchman François Thijssen
, captain of the ship t Gulden Seepaert (The Golden Seahorse). Captain Thijssen had discovered the south coast of Australia and charted about 1800 kilometres (1,118.5 mi) of it between Cape Leeuwin and the Nuyts Archipelago
. Thijssen named the discovered land after Pieter Nuyts, a high employee of the Dutch East India Company
, who was aboard ship as a passenger. His name lives on in Nuytsia floribunda, the Western Australian Christmas Tree.
Two centuries later, when the first white people entered the land around the present Denmark River, the area was inhabited by the Noongar
. These aborigines called the river and the inlet Kwoorabup, which means 'place of the black wallaby' (kwoor). The Noongar disappeared out of the Denmark region in the beginning of the 20th century.
Although the "South Land" was discovered by the Dutch and a major western part of the continent was called Nieuw Holland (New Holland
), the Dutch were more interested in the Indonesian Archipelago than colonising their newly-discovered continent. The name New Holland was officially in use until 1824 and can be found on Dutch maps towards the end of the 19th century. When the French showed an interest in the western part of Australia, Britain decided around 1825 to colonise the whole continent. Many Dutch names for locations, e.g. Nuyts Land, Eendrachtsland and De Wit's Land, disappeared or were Anglicised. For example Swaene-revier became Swan River. Some Dutch names have been retained, for example, as Arnhem Land and Cape Leeuwin.
Leeuwin Land was the old Dutch name for the Denmark area, in which the present Denmark River can be found. The river was discovered in 1829 by the naval doctor Thomas Braidwood Wilson
, the first white man to explore the area. Wilson, who was assisted on his explorations by the Noongar man, Mokare
, made reports about the soil and the enormous trees and named the river after his colleague and friend, the English doctor Alexander Denmark. The name of Denmark has nothing to do with Denmark in Europe, although many workmen in the wood trade migrated from Scandinavia to the region when milling became a booming business.
Around 1885, timber leases were taken out in the Denmark River area, and 15 years later milling was at its peak with Denmark having a population of around 2,000. A railway line from Denmark to Albany was built to transport the karri timber, which was a wanted article all over the world. Many roads in London were paved with karri blocks, and British houses were built with timber from Denmark. However, resource depletion soon resulted in a total collapse of the timber industry. The population declined dramatically, and started to revive only with the introduction of the Group Settlement Scheme
in the 1920s. Small farms of 40 ha (100 acres) were cleared from woodland to create pasture for cattle, dairying and orcharding, mainly apples. Conditions were often poor and some of the small farmers could hardly survive. They worked in one of the timber mills operating around the middle of the 20th century. By the 1960s the population had increased to 1,500 and Denmark was becoming attractive to alternative life-stylers and early retirees. Intensive agriculturists such as wine growers had discovered the value of the rich karri loam for their vineyards. Riesling
and Chardonnay
were the first grapes grown on Denmark soil, soon followed by other varieties. Within 50 years the area became a wine subregion of critical acclaim, as part of the Great Southern Wine Region
. The first winery, Tinglewood, opened in 1976, and by 2008, over twenty vineyards had been established around Denmark.
Tourism started when American soldiers, stationed in Albany during World War II, made outings to Denmark. After the war, Denmark became a popular holiday destination for Western Australians.
According to the 2006 census, Denmark had a population of 2,732. Of these, 70% were Australian-born, 14.6% were born in Britain, 2.1% were born in New Zealand, 1.4% were Indigenous, 1.0% were born in Germany and 1.0% were born in the Netherlands.
Near the Denmark River mouth is a wooden Heritage Railway Bridge where several walking trails come together including the Bibbulmun Track
, which runs from the Perth region to Albany and the Denmark-Nornalup Heritage Trail.
Denmark is on the Great Southern Highway
, and is serviced by the TransWA
public transport system. The town has an airstrip for small planes.
, karri, jarrah and red tingle
. The latter can reach a height of 60 metres (196.9 ft). A distinctive local tree is the Red-flowering Gum
.
There are many indigenous bird species, including Splendid Fairy-wren
s, Emu
s, Australian White Ibis
, Australian Magpie
s and Australian Ringneck
s. Many species of reptiles including snakes and skinks can be found. Marsupial
s such as the Western Grey Kangaroo
, the Southern Brown Bandicoot
and the Common Brushtail Possum
also live in the area.
The abundance of fish, squid and other marine life in the Denmark estuaries and along the coastline attracts Bottlenose Dolphin
s and seals
; seasonally Southern Right Whale
s rest there during their long migrations to the north.
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...
, 423 kilometres (262.8 mi) south-south-east of the state capital of 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....
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Denmark had a population of 2,732.
History
François Thijssen
François Thijssen or Frans Thijsz was a Dutch explorer who explored the southern coast of Australia.He was the captain of the ship t Gulden Zeepaerdt when sailing from Cape of Good Hope to Batavia...
, captain of the ship t Gulden Seepaert (The Golden Seahorse). Captain Thijssen had discovered the south coast of Australia and charted about 1800 kilometres (1,118.5 mi) of it between Cape Leeuwin and the Nuyts Archipelago
Nuyts Archipelago
The Nuyts Archipelago, including the Isles of St Francis, comprises a group of mainly small and mostly granitic islands lying off Ceduna, South Australia, at the eastern end of the Great Australian Bight and the north-western coast of the Eyre Peninsula...
. Thijssen named the discovered land after Pieter Nuyts, a high employee of the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
, who was aboard ship as a passenger. His name lives on in Nuytsia floribunda, the Western Australian Christmas Tree.
Two centuries later, when the first white people entered the land around the present Denmark River, the area was inhabited by the 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...
. These aborigines called the river and the inlet Kwoorabup, which means 'place of the black wallaby' (kwoor). The Noongar disappeared out of the Denmark region in the beginning of the 20th century.
Although the "South Land" was discovered by the Dutch and a major western part of the continent was called Nieuw Holland (New Holland
New Holland (Australia)
New Holland is a historic name for the island continent of Australia. The name was first applied to Australia in 1644 by the Dutch seafarer Abel Tasman as Nova Hollandia, naming it after the Dutch province of Holland, and remained in use for 180 years....
), the Dutch were more interested in the Indonesian Archipelago than colonising their newly-discovered continent. The name New Holland was officially in use until 1824 and can be found on Dutch maps towards the end of the 19th century. When the French showed an interest in the western part of Australia, Britain decided around 1825 to colonise the whole continent. Many Dutch names for locations, e.g. Nuyts Land, Eendrachtsland and De Wit's Land, disappeared or were Anglicised. For example Swaene-revier became Swan River. Some Dutch names have been retained, for example, as Arnhem Land and Cape Leeuwin.
Leeuwin Land was the old Dutch name for the Denmark area, in which the present Denmark River can be found. The river was discovered in 1829 by the naval doctor Thomas Braidwood Wilson
Thomas Braidwood Wilson
Thomas Braidwood Wilson FRGS was an Australian surgeon and explorer. He was born in Uphall, West Lothian, Scotland, the son of James, and Catherine Boak.-Sea Voyages:...
, the first white man to explore the area. Wilson, who was assisted on his explorations by the Noongar man, Mokare
Mokare
Mokare was a Noongar man, an Aboriginal man from the south-west corner of Australia who was pivotal in aiding European exploration of the area. Mokare had two known brothers: Mollian Mokare (c. 1800 - 26 June 1831) was a Noongar man, an Aboriginal man from the south-west corner of Australia who...
, made reports about the soil and the enormous trees and named the river after his colleague and friend, the English doctor Alexander Denmark. The name of Denmark has nothing to do with Denmark in Europe, although many workmen in the wood trade migrated from Scandinavia to the region when milling became a booming business.
Around 1885, timber leases were taken out in the Denmark River area, and 15 years later milling was at its peak with Denmark having a population of around 2,000. A railway line from Denmark to Albany was built to transport the karri timber, which was a wanted article all over the world. Many roads in London were paved with karri blocks, and British houses were built with timber from Denmark. However, resource depletion soon resulted in a total collapse of the timber industry. The population declined dramatically, and started to revive only with the introduction of the Group Settlement Scheme
Group Settlement Scheme
The Group Settlement Scheme was an assisted migration scheme which operated in Western Australia from the early 1920s. It was engineered by Premier James Mitchell and followed on from the Soldier Settlement Scheme immediately after World War I...
in the 1920s. Small farms of 40 ha (100 acres) were cleared from woodland to create pasture for cattle, dairying and orcharding, mainly apples. Conditions were often poor and some of the small farmers could hardly survive. They worked in one of the timber mills operating around the middle of the 20th century. By the 1960s the population had increased to 1,500 and Denmark was becoming attractive to alternative life-stylers and early retirees. Intensive agriculturists such as wine growers had discovered the value of the rich karri loam for their vineyards. Riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
and Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
were the first grapes grown on Denmark soil, soon followed by other varieties. Within 50 years the area became a wine subregion of critical acclaim, as part of the Great Southern Wine Region
Great Southern Wine Region
The Great Southern Wine Region in Western Australia's South West is Australia's largest wine region a rectangle 200 kilometres from east to west and over 100 kilometers from north to south...
. The first winery, Tinglewood, opened in 1976, and by 2008, over twenty vineyards had been established around Denmark.
Tourism started when American soldiers, stationed in Albany during World War II, made outings to Denmark. After the war, Denmark became a popular holiday destination for Western Australians.
Demographics
Facilities
Denmark is a rural town with timber milling, orcharding, beef cattle and dairy farming a. its primary industries. Soil and climate attract wine growers, with tourism being the fastest growing business in Denmark. There is limited commercial fishing as Denmark has no harbour. The town is home to the Denmark College of Agriculture which provides the specialist education of farming and farm related studies. Denmark was awarded the title of "Australia's Tidiest Town" in 1998.Near the Denmark River mouth is a wooden Heritage Railway Bridge where several walking trails come together including the Bibbulmun Track
Bibbulmun Track
The Bibbulmun Track is a long distance walk trail in Western Australia. It runs from Kalamunda, east of Perth to Albany and is almost 1000 km long...
, which runs from the Perth region to Albany and the Denmark-Nornalup Heritage Trail.
Denmark is on the Great Southern Highway
Great Southern Highway
Great Southern Highway is a highway in the Southern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, starting from Great Eastern Highway at The Lakes, 50 km from Perth, and ending at Albany Highway near Cranbrook. It is the primary thoroughfare for this part of Western Australia and runs parallel with the...
, and is serviced by the TransWA
Transwa
Transwa is Western Australia's regional public transport provider, linking 275 destinations within Western Australia, from Kalbarri in the north to Augusta in the south to Esperance in the east along with the regional centres of Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Northam, Geraldton and Albany.Transwa is...
public transport system. The town has an airstrip for small planes.
Flora and fauna
Denmark is surrounded by native woodland with a large variety of trees, including the eucalypts marriCorymbia calophylla
Corymbia calophylla is a bloodwood native to Western Australia. Common names include Marri and Port Gregory Gum, and a long standing usage has been Red Gum due to the red gum effusions often found on trunks.It is distinctive among bloodwoods for its very large buds and fruit Corymbia calophylla...
, karri, jarrah and red tingle
Eucalyptus jacksonii
The Red Tingle of south west Western Australia is one of the tallest trees in the state and can measure up to 24 metres round at the base and grow to a height of 75 metres and live for up to 400 years....
. The latter can reach a height of 60 metres (196.9 ft). A distinctive local tree is the Red-flowering Gum
Corymbia ficifolia
Corymbia ficifolia or the red flowering gum also known as Albany red flowering gum is one of the most commonly planted ornamental trees in the broader eucalyptus family....
.
There are many indigenous bird species, including Splendid Fairy-wren
Splendid Fairy-wren
The Splendid Fairywren , also known simply as the Splendid Wren or more colloquially in Western Australia as the Blue Wren, is a passerine bird of the Maluridae family. It is found across much of the Australian continent from central-western New South Wales and southwestern Queensland over to...
s, Emu
Emu
The Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the largest bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. It is the second-largest extant bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. There are three subspecies of Emus in Australia...
s, Australian White Ibis
Australian White Ibis
The Australian White Ibis , is a wading bird of the ibis family Threskiornithidae. It is widespread across much of Australia...
, Australian Magpie
Australian Magpie
The Australian Magpie is a medium-sized black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea. A member of the Artamidae, it is closely related to the butcherbirds...
s and Australian Ringneck
Australian Ringneck
The Australian Ringneck is a parrot native to Australia. Except for extreme tropical and highland areas, the species has adapted to all conditions...
s. Many species of reptiles including snakes and skinks can be found. Marsupial
Marsupial
Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
s such as the Western Grey Kangaroo
Western Grey Kangaroo
The Western Grey Kangaroo is a large and very common kangaroo or macropod, found across almost the entire southern part of Australia, from just south of Shark Bay to coastal South Australia, western Victoria, and the entire Murray-Darling Basin in New South Wales and Queensland...
, the Southern Brown Bandicoot
Southern Brown Bandicoot
The Southern Brown Bandicoot , also known as the Quenda from the local Noongar tongue from South Western Australia, is a short-nosed bandicoot found mostly in southern Australia....
and the Common Brushtail Possum
Common Brushtail Possum
The Common Brushtail Possum is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae, it is native to Australia, and the largest of the possums.Like most possums, the Common Brushtail is nocturnal...
also live in the area.
The abundance of fish, squid and other marine life in the Denmark estuaries and along the coastline attracts Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose dolphins, the genus Tursiops, are the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Recent molecular studies show the genus contains two species, the common bottlenose dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin , instead of one...
s and seals
Eared Seal
The eared seals or otariids are marine mammals in the family Otariidae, one of three groupings of Pinnipeds. They comprise 16 species in seven genera commonly known either as sea lions or fur seals, distinct from true seals and the Walrus...
; seasonally Southern Right Whale
Southern Right Whale
The southern right whale is a baleen whale, one of three species classified as right whales belonging to the genus Eubalaena. Like other right whales, the southern right whale is readily distinguished from others by the callosities on its head, a broad back without a dorsal fin, and a long arching...
s rest there during their long migrations to the north.
Further reading
- R.W. Mumford, Denmark Western Australia - A History to 1905.
- G. Sheriff, The History of Denmark, 1951.
- R. McGuinness, A look at Millars and the influence of the railway and tramways on the settlement of the district, Past and Present Intersect and Converge - Denmark through the 1900s.
- P. Clarke, A Colonial Woman, Allen & Unwin, 1986.