Plantagenet, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
The Shire of Plantagenet is a Local Government Area
in the Great Southern region of Western Australia
, managed from the town of Mount Barker
, 360 kilometres (224 mi) south of Perth
and 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Albany
. The shire covers an area of 4792 square kilometres (1,850 sq mi) and includes the communities of Narrikup
, Rocky Gully, Kendenup
and Porongurup
.
The region is noted for agriculture, principally wheat
, sheep (wool and meat), beef cattle
, wine
, canola
and olives. Silviculture, especially plantations of Tasmanian Blue Gums
(Eucalyptus globulus), is fast becoming a major industry in the shire although some recent silverculture enterprises (Great Southern Plantations
and Timbercorp) have proven to be poorly managed, falling into receivership. There is a lot of uncertainty as to this industry. Local tourist attractions include the Porongurup Range
and Stirling Range
, a packed-out museum based within the original police station, and other pioneering structures such as St Werburghs Chapel.
The Mount Barker Power Company Pty Ltd has constructed slightly to the north of the township a three Enercon
turbine 73m high windfarm costing $8.3 million dollars. The turbines are on private land and this development is a private energy generation selling power into the state grid. The windfarm is one of the very few to have been completed to service a local community's power needs since the State of Western Australia set a renewable energy target. The site is on private property and is projected to generate about 8,400 megawatt hours of electricity each year from three 800 kilowatt turbines.
Local Government Areas of Western Australia
The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 141 local government areas...
in the Great Southern region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, managed from the town of Mount Barker
Mount Barker, Western Australia
Mount Barker is a town on the Albany Highway and is the administrative centre of the Shire of Plantagenet in the Great Southern region of Western Australia...
, 360 kilometres (224 mi) south of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Albany
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
. The shire covers an area of 4792 square kilometres (1,850 sq mi) and includes the communities of Narrikup
Narrikup, Western Australia
Narrikup is a small town between Albany and Mount Barker in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, Narrikup had a population of 515....
, Rocky Gully, Kendenup
Kendenup, Western Australia
Kendenup is a small town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, within the Shire of Plantagenet. It is south east of Perth and north of Mount Barker. The Great Southern Railway passes through the town, being one of the original stations on the line...
and Porongurup
Porongurup, Western Australia
Porongurup is the name of a small mountain range in the Shire of Plantagenet in Western Australia and of a small village on the northern slopes of the range. At the 2006 census, Porongurup had a population of 370.The name is derived from the Aboriginal place-name, and consequently arrived with no...
.
The region is noted for agriculture, principally wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, sheep (wool and meat), beef cattle
Beef cattle
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production . The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot cattle are known as feeder cattle. Many such feeder cattle are born in cow-calf operations specifically designed to produce beef calves...
, wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, canola
Canola
Canola refers to a cultivar of either Rapeseed or Field Mustard . Its seeds are used to produce edible oil suitable for consumption by humans and livestock. The oil is also suitable for use as biodiesel.Originally, Canola was bred naturally from rapeseed in Canada by Keith Downey and Baldur R...
and olives. Silviculture, especially plantations of Tasmanian Blue Gums
Eucalyptus globulus
The Tasmanian Blue Gum, Southern Blue Gum or Blue Gum, is an evergreen tree, one of the most widely cultivated trees native to Australia. They typically grow from 30 to 55 m tall. The tallest currently known specimen in Tasmania is 90.7 m tall...
(Eucalyptus globulus), is fast becoming a major industry in the shire although some recent silverculture enterprises (Great Southern Plantations
Great Southern Group
Great Southern Group is a group of Australian companies that is notable as the country's largest agribusiness managed investment scheme business. The company was founded in 1987 and became a public company in 1999. It expanded its MIS business rapidly in the 2000s, supported by favourable tax...
and Timbercorp) have proven to be poorly managed, falling into receivership. There is a lot of uncertainty as to this industry. Local tourist attractions include the Porongurup Range
Porongurup National Park
Porongurup National Park is a national park in the Great Southern region of Western Australia , 360 km southeast of Perth and 40 km from Albany....
and Stirling Range
Stirling Range
The Stirling Range or Koikyennuruff is a range of mountains and hills in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, 337 km south-east of Perth. It is located at approximately and is over 60 km wide from west to east, stretching from the highway between Mount Barker and Cranbrook...
, a packed-out museum based within the original police station, and other pioneering structures such as St Werburghs Chapel.
History
The Plantagenet Road Board was gazetted on 24 January 1871 as one of 18 elected boards to manage roads and services in Western Australia, and initially included a reasonably large section of the Great Southern region. On 1 July 1961, it became the Shire of Plantagenet following the enactment of the Local Government Act.Wards
The shire was redivided into five wards in 2001. The shire president is elected from amongst the councillors.- East Ward (2 councillors)
- Kendenup Ward (1 councillor)
- Rocky Gully/West Ward (2 councillors)
- South Ward (1 councillor)
- Town Ward (3 councillors)
Towns
- Mount BarkerMount Barker, Western AustraliaMount Barker is a town on the Albany Highway and is the administrative centre of the Shire of Plantagenet in the Great Southern region of Western Australia...
- Denbarker
- KendenupKendenup, Western AustraliaKendenup is a small town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, within the Shire of Plantagenet. It is south east of Perth and north of Mount Barker. The Great Southern Railway passes through the town, being one of the original stations on the line...
- NarrikupNarrikup, Western AustraliaNarrikup is a small town between Albany and Mount Barker in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, Narrikup had a population of 515....
- Perillup
- PorongurupPorongurup, Western AustraliaPorongurup is the name of a small mountain range in the Shire of Plantagenet in Western Australia and of a small village on the northern slopes of the range. At the 2006 census, Porongurup had a population of 370.The name is derived from the Aboriginal place-name, and consequently arrived with no...
- Rocky GullyRocky Gully, Western AustraliaRocky Gully is a small town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.The town is located along the Muirs Highway, about from the Kent River....
Infrastructure
The shire has ownership and responsibility of the Great Southern Saleyards, a state-of-the-art facility that was built following the closure of the Mount Barker Saleyards and the Albany Town Saleyards, and joint development by both councils around 2002. Due to cost issues, the City of Albany sought to dispose of its share of the facilty, and an agreement was made to transfer full ownership and responsibility to the Shire of Plantagenet.The Mount Barker Power Company Pty Ltd has constructed slightly to the north of the township a three Enercon
Enercon
Enercon GmbH, based in Aurich, Germany, is the fourth-largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world and has been the market leader in Germany since the mid-nineties. Enercon has production facilities in Germany , Sweden, Brazil, India, Canada, Turkey and Portugal...
turbine 73m high windfarm costing $8.3 million dollars. The turbines are on private land and this development is a private energy generation selling power into the state grid. The windfarm is one of the very few to have been completed to service a local community's power needs since the State of Western Australia set a renewable energy target. The site is on private property and is projected to generate about 8,400 megawatt hours of electricity each year from three 800 kilowatt turbines.