Population 17,262 (2015) Founded 1887 | Established 1868 Website Shire of Murray Area 1,710 km² | |
Points of interest Lane Poole Reserve, Abingdon Miniature Village, Peel Zoo, West Coast Motor Museum, The Wine Tree Destinations | ||
The Shire of Murray is a local government area of Western Australia. It has an area of 1,710.1 square kilometres (660.3 sq mi) and is located in the Peel Region about 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of the Perth central business district.
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Map of Murray, WA, Australia
The Shire extends from the coast at Lake Clifton across the Peel Inlet and the Swan Coastal Plain into the Darling Scarp, including about 77,000 hectares (190,000 acres) of State forests. Timber logging and agriculture were the traditional enterprises of the district. However, in recent decades, bauxite mining and a significant equine and tourism industry have emerged. The Murray River flows all year throughout the district. It offers premier country racing and trotting facilities, a golf course and an array of festivals and events.
The Shire is centred on the town of Pinjarra, one of the oldest towns in Western Australia where a number of 19th century mud brick buildings are still in use today.
History
The area was first settled in 1834 by Sir Thomas Peel.
On 7 November 1868, the Murray District Roads Committee had its first meeting in Pinjarra. The Murray Road District was gazetted on 25 January 1871. On 1 July 1961, it became the Shire of Murray.
Suburbs and towns
Bold denotes major settlements