Kojonup, Western Australia

Kojonup is a place in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, which is located 256 km south-east of Perth and 152 kilometers north of Albany on the Albany Highway.

Etymology

It is believed that the word Kojonup refers to a type of stone ax, which was used by local Aborigines.

History

1837 was the surveyor Alfred Hillman in the area. He was the first European to explore the region. The Aborigines led him to Kojonup source. The place was a prominent stop on the road to Albany. In 1837, a military base for the protection of travelers and the post office was established.

Around 1845 grew the branch office to assist the location close to the barracks. Today, the barracks is in its original location. She is one of the oldest buildings in Western Australia. The first farms Kojonups were built by soldiers. In the late 1860s, the military presence ended in Kojonup.

The first police station of the city was rebuilt in 1869 and in the same year issued the first hotel license.

Initially, the local economy was based on cases and transport of sandalwood and on the hunt for kangaroos. Around the mid- 1800s grew the wool industry. Around 1906 the Shire had 10,500 sheep. Around 1989 Kojonup had about a million sheep to be shorn.

Attractions

• To illustrate the importance of the wool industry in the local economy, a model of a wool wagon was built in 2001 in celebration of Australia Day.
• The city has a golf club with 18 holes, a skate park, a swimming pool of 50 meters and an Australian football game field
• Another local attraction is the Kodja Place, which has a rose maze in which you show the history Kojonups.