Mullalyup, Western Australia

Mullalyup Western Australia
The state heritage listed Blackwood Inn in Mullalyup
Mullalyup
Coordinates	33.74°S 115.95°E / -33.74; 115.95
Population	149 (SAL 2021)[1]
Established	1901
Postcode(s)	6252
Elevation	133 m (436 ft)
Area	82.7 km^2 (31.9 sq mi)
Location	231 km (144 mi) south of Perth 15 km (9 mi) north west of Greenbushes 23 km (14 mi) south east of Donnybrook
LGA(s)	Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup
State electorate(s)	Warren-Blackwood
Federal division(s)	Forrest
Localities around Mullalyup: Kirup Kirup Grimwade Brazier Mullalyup Balingup Cundinup Southampton Balingup

Mullalyup is a town in the South West region of Western Australia, situated between Kirup and Balingup on the South Western Highway, 231 kilometres (144 mi) south of Perth. The town is in the shire of Donnybrook-Balingup, known for its scenic Blackwood River Valley and agricultural industries.^[2]

The name is taken from the nearby Mullalyup Brook, and was first noted by John Forrest in 1866. It is Noongar in origin, and apparently means "nose place", as the place where nose-piercing was performed as part of the initiation cycle of young men.^[3][a] Mullalyup and the Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup are located on the traditional land of the Wardandi people of the Noongar nation.^[5][6][7]

The first Europeans to settle in the area were the Coverley family who took land close to the town and named their farm "Elm Grove". The first major building in the town was the Blackwood Inn, built in 1882 by John Coverley for Thomas Maslin.

During the 1890s the town was included as a siding in the construction of the railway line from Donnybrook to Bridgetown.^[8]

The town site was gazetted in 1901.^[9]

Mullalyup House, c. 1911

Notes

1. The suffix -up is commonly found in place names in south-western Western Australia and is of Noongar origin, meaning "place of".^[4]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Mullalyup (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
2. "South West Development Commission - Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup".
3. "History of country town names – M". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2007.
4. "Noongar Town Names and their Meanings". Aboriginal Perspectives Across the Curriculum. Department of Education and Training (Western Australia). Archived from the original on 4 September 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
5. "Map of Indigenous Australia". aiatsis.gov.au. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
6. "Catalog of Australian Aboriginal Tribes". www.samuseum.sa.gov.au. South Australian Museum. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
7. "Welcome to the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup". www.donnybrook-balingup.wa.gov.au. Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup. Retrieved 17 July 2024. The Shire of Donnybrook Balingup acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land, the Wardandi People of the Noongar Nation
8. "Balingup Community Web - Mullalyup". 2007. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2008.
9. "About Australia - Mullalyup, WA". 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2008.