Tambellup
Tambellup main street
Is located in Western Australia‘s Great Southern Agricultural region, 317 km south-east of Perth on the Great Southern Highway where it crosses the Gordon River. It is 23 km south of Broomehill. The area around Tambellup was first settled by pastoralists in the late 1840s, and in 1849 the Surveyor General, John Septimus Roe, when passing through the area, referred to Morrison’s south west station at “Tambul-yillup”. The area was later settled by the Norrish family, and the spelling commonly used for the place then was “Tambellelup”.
When the Great Southern Railway was opened in 1889 a station was established at Tambellup, and it appears that the shortened version of the name was created by the railway, as the timetable in 1889 uses the Tambellup spelling. Tambellup was gazetted a townsite in 1899. The meaning of this Aboriginal name is not known, although one source gives it as “place of thunder” (from Toombellanup). Another explanation is that Tambellup cames means “the place of many Tammars”, Tammar being the Noongar word for a small marsupial that used to frequent the area. Tambellup’s main street is Norrish Street, named after its first European settler, Josiah Norrish (1841-1884), who in 1872 was attracted to the area by its large stands of Santalum spicatum (commonly known as sandalwood). Today, the main industry in Tambellup is sheep farming, while sandalwood continues as a distant second. Much of the sandalwood is exported, and used in the manufacture of joss sticks.
The Gordon River has flooded several times since Tambellup was established. The first recorded flood was in 1913, then again in 1937, then a major flood in 1955 when the river rose 6 metres (20 ft) resulting in some parts of the town being 1 metre (3 ft) underwater. In
Tambellup Old Petrol Station
January 1982, a decaying tropical cyclone passed over the catchment area feeding the Gordon River causing it to flood the town. Much of the town, including the main street, was covered to a depth of about 1 metre (3 ft).
Memorable Places in Tambellup
The Old Petrol Station
Most of the travelers when the visit the town of Tambellup they never forget to missed to pull into the Old Petrol Station on Garrity Street “Great Southern Highway”. This BIG Old Petrol Station is located right part on the highway, wherein all of the attendants are also can share or guide in term for motoring needs. When you get park your vehicles you can walk around along the Old Petrol Station.
The Tambellup Heritage Trail
To the north of the Town Loop, the trail runs upstream of the main bridge, across the river, where much of the social history of the European settler community occurred. This is a series of three inter-connecting trails that starts in the centre of town and takes in much of the history of the early settlement. Because much of the Noongar history of the area is centred on the Gordon River, the trail continues south of the town to the site of the former Aboriginal Reserve.
Picnic spots
Picnic Spots, Tambellup
After roaming around the place if you feel something to eat and drink, you can visit to Tambellup Settlers Mart or the Tambellup Deli and pick the most beautiful part to do picnic. Try the hushed surrounds and black swans at the Gordon River Reserve, or perhaps Diprose Park, which has a children’s play area, toilets and free barbecue facilities under the shade of magnificent gum trees. Don’t feel like picnicking? Well, try the Post Cafe for some ambrosial lunch’s or coffee and cake or the Tambellup Hotel, which also serves meals, where you can get a blizzardly-cold drink. If you like the atmosphere of old country pubs, where people actually talk to each other, make sure you visit this one.
Community Mosaics
Representing Tambellup’s strong sense of community, a collective effort from young and old put together this elaborate representation of Tambellup, displayed in a mosaic art form on the front of the Shire administration building. It depicts imagery of the Gordon River and its significance in Tambellup’s history. Pavers set in the footpath, created by local schoolchildren, compliment the artwork.
Tambellup Caravan Park
Tambellup, WA
has powered sites and new, clean decontamination facilities, located under shady pine trees near the sports oval. A perfect place to park and contemplate in peace and quiet on your travels down the Great Southern Highway. Washing machine and dryer is available for use.
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