Anyone who has visited here is well aware of our beautiful natural environment, temperate climate, great beaches inlets and rivers, luxurious forest and wilderness, great fishing, the iconic Valley of Giants Tree Top Walk, wineries, green pastures and plentiful rain.
 

But what makes Walpole and districts tick? Its the people.

From the earliest days of settlement which was less than 100 years ago, the pioneers who established dairy farms from virgin forest were to say the least, resilient
 

Resilience is still a key factor in the culture of the area. Because of the geographical isolation from major centers, help was not always at hand and what people wanted they got on with and provided for themselves.
 

The first community hall was relocated from Shannon River and re-erected by volunteers. Numerous community facilities were similarly built like the town oval, tennis courts, school oval and gymnasium, golf club, bowling greens and 18 hole golf course. Volunteers built the Yacht Club, Sea Search and Rescue building, Ambulance building- and the list goes on.

It is the people who matter most. This is a very caring and friendly community. Tourism brings with it regular and rapid changes but the locals know how much it means to our local economy so tourists are made welcome.
 

This is also a very active sporting a social place. There's a plethora of groups ranging from bowls, golf, tennis, basketball, indoor hockey, soccer, badminton and cricket. There are many walking tracks including the famous Bibbulmun Track which passes through the town and is continuous from Perth to Albany. Sailing, fishing, canoeing, boating and four wheel driving are popular outdoor pursuits.
 

If eating out and/or art are your passion, we have many very good restaurants. There are also studios which display art, craft, pottery and wood work.

Children and youth are well catered for with a delightful small primary school which offers extra curricular education in the environment and a youth club which organizes many holiday programs. A Long Day Care care centre caters for 0-6 year olds and is open three days per week.
 
 

Our local health service is second to none. Based at the Silver Chain Nursing Post it offers 24 hour emergency care, daily appointments with a well qualified nursing staff, a doctor visiting three days a week, community and infant health and immunization, physiotherapy, dietitian, pathology, mental health support, diabetes educator and home and community care services.
 
 

The Seniors Club has a coordinator and many active members who enjoy the use of the local community bus for outings. They participate in a healthy aging program and are currently looking at options for building independent living units. They are always involved in something and hardly have time to think about growing older because they are so busy!

Volunteers are the backbone of this area. They work in many capacities including the various rescue services but also in the sporting and social clubs. The Telecentre is a hive of activity with volunteers who are able to learn new skills “on the job”. At the Volunteer Appreciation Day over 150 people were nominated for certificates which shows how much this “labour force” means to a small population.
 
 

Walpole is well known for regular events.. We have a monthly farmers market in the summer months. The Easter Markets have been in operation for many years and attract huge crowds. This is the second year of the Art-in-Action and 12 local artisans displayed their wares and had hands-on demonstrations of their craft. Motocross is now a regular event bringing more visitors every year. We have annual Christmas Carols by glow lights in the Community Centre, the children's annual concert and a well attended Anzac Day service every year.
 
 

Just about everything you need is available in Walpole. We have the Telecentre as mentioned where the local Walpole Weekly is produced, you can surf the internet and check your email, have photocopying done, do your banking with the community owned Bendigo Bank, undertake TAFE training programs, purchase souvenirs, organize a teleconference or video conference, pick up information from the centrelink or medibank desks or even get help from the tax office. There are just too many services to mention.
 
 

Walpole is 116 klms south east of Manjimup, 66 klms west of Denmark and 120 klms from Albany. Perth is 440 klms and about 4.5 hours traveling time.

Our district can be quite clearly defined as being between the Deep River in the west to the Kent River in the east. Our borders are the southern coast and the Walpole Wilderness to the north. Freehold land makes up a very small proportion of all of the land in our region.

The resident population of Walpole is stated as approximately 500 with a further 500 living in the adjoining districts, however only half the houses in Walpole are occupied on a permanent basis.

The land was originally settled by three pioneering families- the Bellanger family at Nornalup in 1910, the Thompson family at Tinglewood on the Deep River and the Swarbrick family in Walpole.

Dairy farming was the first occupation for the early settlers soon to be followed by timber milling. Dairy farming is no longer a viable option and only one dairy now exists. Beef farming is the agricultural main stay with a small number of sheep.. There is growth in other crops particularly blue gums and grapes and small areas of mixed horticulture.

The major employer in the area is the Department for the Environment and Conservation (formerly Conservation and Land Management). The second largest employer is tourism and related services. Thurlby Herb Farm which has grown from a cottage industry in the 1970’s now employs many people on site and others who are contracted on piece rates to sew and fill the many perfumed products made by this progressive company which exports all over Australia and the world.
                                Department of Conservation and the Environment                                                                                     Thurlby Herb Farm products

Despite the richness of life, the underlying economy is not wealthy by Western Australian standards. Maybe this makes for a harmonious community. We have a very low crime rate and graffiti is almost non-existent.

The people of Walpole and Districts really care, not only for their own but by recognizing the needs of others. Various organizations donate to the Red Cross, support cancer research and many of the other annual charity fundraisers. We have three local people who collect roadside litter on a regular basis from Shannon River in the north to Kent River in the east along the highways and streets. You will rarely see litter anywhere on our roads or beaches. Others volunteer to remove introduced weeds from the national parks and everyone pitches in to do the big tidy up for Tidy Towns judging. We have just established a Community Chest to assist those in need when a crisis occurs. The Op-Shop returns all of its profits to the community and in just over 3 years has given over $20,000 away to community groups and needy causes.

This is truly a great community to live in. Where else do you get fresh clean air like ours, a wonderful climate, plentiful rain and permanent streams, fertile soils, peace and quiet and opportunities for such variety in the sporting and social scene, plus a caring community?

Accommodation- everything from Back Packers to Hotel/Motel, Chalets, Farm Stays,  Bed  & Breakfasts and Caravan Parks Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Art Galleries Airstrip- with permission from DEC Architect and Drafting Services Ambulance Bakery & Café- Golden Wattle Arcade, Pioneer Store Banking-  Bendigo Bank 4 days 10-4pm Tues-Friday        Bank West 2 hrs Wednesday 10-12 am   ATM’s at both supermarkets and the Post Office Builders and Carpenters Butcher- in the Golden Wattle Arcade Caravan Parks- Coalmine Beach, Restpoint, Nornalup Eco-Park, Peaceful Bay Car repairs, tyres & 4WD, panel beater Civil Celebrant Clothing and Gifts Concrete contractors Department of the Environment and Conservation (was CALM, now DEC) Earth Moving, clearing, dam sinking, road making, excavation, fire breaks Electricians Fast food outlets- Golden Wattle Café, Wooz & Suz, Mal & Barbs Flaming Hot Take-aways (Pizza)  Family Centre Fencing contractor Fire and Rescue Fire Brigades Firewood supplies Hardware  Hairdresser Handymen- home maintenance, garden maintenance, mowing services etc. Hotel/Motel Library Liquor store- IGA, Hotel bottle shop

Massage Therapy Mechanical Repairs News agency- Pioneer Store Nursery Supplies- Hardware shop Op-Shop Restaurants- Top Deck, Nornalup Teahouse Restaurant, Tree Top Walk Motel, Hotel, Valley of Giants Cafe Sea Search & Rescue Supermarkets-  Golden Wattle Supermart    Pioneer Store IGA Playgroup Plumbers Pharmacy Physiotherapy Post Office Primary School, Pre Primary & Kindy Police Service RAC Breakdown and Towing Service Real Estate Agents Service Stations- two Shed- supply & erection Silver Chain Nursing Post Stock feed- Hardware Store Storage Sheds Taxi Timber suppliers- various Training- Walpole Telecentre Transport-  local taxi   Westrail Bus daily Perth to Albany via Bunbury Touring- Wild over Walpole Eco-tours wilderness boat trips, Walpole Taxi Service Tyre Repairs Video Hire- Golden Wattle Supermarket Visitor Centre Veterinary Service- on call or Wednesdays

AA BTH Ladies Club -Tingledale Hall Community Centre (for hire) Craft Group FESA Nornalup Residents and Ratepayers Association Peaceful Bay Progress Association Peaceful Bay Sea Rescue Play Group Roman Catholic Church Recreation Centre Silver Chain Branch Committee Seniors Activity & Social Club St John’s Ambulance Tennis Club- Tingledale and Walpole Tidy Towns Committee Tingletones Choir Uniting Church

Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades- North Walpole, Walpole, Nornalup, Tingledale, & Peaceful Bay. Walpole Autumn Club Walpole Country Club- 18 hole golf (sand greens) and bowls (synthetic turf under lights) Walpole Public Library Walpole Darts Club Walpole Junior Football Club Walpole-Nornalup & Districts Community Development Group Walpole-Nornalup & Districts Historical Society Walpole-Nornalup & Districts National Parks Association Walpole Sports & Recreation Association Walpole Telecentre Management Committee Walpole Nornalup Tourism Association Walpole Primary P & C Association Walpole Weight Watchers Yacht Club Youth Crew