Margaret River, Western Australia
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| Margaret River Western Australia |
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 Rivermouth, Margaret River |
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| Population: | 3,629 (2001 census) |
| Established: | 1890s |
| Postcode: | 6285 |
| Location: | |
| LGA: | Shire of Augusta-Margaret River |
| State District: | Warren-Blackwood |
| Federal Division: | Forrest |
Margaret River is a town and river in the South West of Western Australia, located 277 kilometres (172 mi) south of Perth, the state capital. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.
The surrounding area is the Margaret River Wine Region and has become known for its wine production and tourism, attracting an estimated 500,000 visitors annually.[1]. In earlier days the area was better known for hardwood timber and agricultural production.
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[edit] Geography
The town of Margaret River is located 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) inland from the Indian Ocean at a point about halfway between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia's South West region. The river after which the town is named begins about 45 kilometres (28 mi) to the east.
[edit] History
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The town and river are presumed to be named after Margaret Wyche, cousin of John Garrett Bussell (founder of Busselton) in 1831. The name is first shown on a map of the region published in 1839. European migrants lived in the area as early as 1850, with timber logging commencing in around 1870. By 1910, the town had a hotel also operating as a post office.
After World War I, an attempt by the Government of Western Australia to attract migrants to Western Australia (known as Group Settlement) and establish farms in the region attracted settlers to the town. In 1922, over 100 settlers moved into the district.
[edit] Wine Region
The Margaret River Wine Region extends about 120 kilometres north-south from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste and about 30 kilometres inland. High-quality table wine grapes have been grown by a variety of commercial vineyards since the first significant plantings at 'Vasse Felix' were established in 1967 [2].
Vasse Felix was named after a French seaman by the name of Thomas Vasse. Vasse had drowned when his longboat overturned off Wonnerup Beach near Busselton while exploring the coastline in the Geographe under Nicholas Baudin in June 1801.
Other pioneering wine producers include 'Moss Wood', 'Cullen', 'Woodlands' and 'Cape Mentelle', all established in the early 1970s.
The shift in emphasis to the wine industry in the late 1980s-early 1990s sharply reversed the slow decline in the region's economy, and since 1996, the region has been one of the fastest growing economic areas in Australia[citation needed]. Wines from the region are exported throughout the world and some varietals have achieved considerable fame: the 'Leeuwin Estate' Art Series Chardonnay for example is one of the finest of this varietal in the world[citation needed].
Although the region is one of Australia's largest wine regions, it produces just three percent of total Australian grape production, while producing more than 20 percent of the nation's premium wines.[3]
In recent years a number of small, independent producers have appeared bearing contemporary labels and brands. Some of these include 'wine by brad', 'Flying Fish' and 'Preveli Wines'.
[edit] Caves
Several hundred caves are located near Margaret River, all of them within Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Four of these are open to the public.[4]
The most famous of these is the multi-chambered Mammoth Cave, which lies 21 kilometres south of the town and contains fossils dating back over 35000 years.[citation needed] The cave was first discovered by European settlers in 1850 and has been open to the public since 1904. The cave can be explored by a self-guided audio tour, and is one of the few caves in Australia offering partial disabled access.[citation needed]
The other three caves open to the public in the area are Jewel Cave, Lake Cave and Moondyne Cave.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association (2005). Augusta-Margaret River Region - Fact Sheet. Retrieved on 2007-05-01.
- ^ Margaret River Wine History. Margaret River Wine Industry Association. Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
- ^ Small on quantity, big on quality. Margaret River Region Wines Online. Retrieved on 2007-01-30.
- ^ M. Bright, 1001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die, Quintet Publishing, London 2005
[edit] External links
- Margaret River, Western Australia is at coordinates Coordinates:
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