Yallingup is a town in the South West region of Western Australia, 256 kilometres (159 mi) south of Perth. Yallingup is a popular tourist destination because of its beaches and limestone caves, and proximity to Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.
Yallingup Western Australia | |
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Yallingup | |
Coordinates | 33°38′S 115°02′E / 33.64°S 115.03°E |
Population | 1,195 (SAL 2021)[1] |
Postcode(s) | 6282 |
Area | 75.3 km2 (29.1 sq mi) |
Location | |
LGA(s) | City of Busselton |
State electorate(s) | Vasse |
Federal division(s) | Forrest |
Yallingup's name means "Place of caves" in the local Aboriginal Wardandi dialect, with "yal" meaning "large hole"; the name has been rumoured to mean "place of love" due to the popularity of weddings and honeymoons in the town.[2][3] After its caves were discovered by European settlers in 1899, Yallingup became popular with tourists,[4] and its early infrastructure was photographed by Coyarre.[5][6] There was a state primary school in Yallingup from 1905 to 1963; the site now contains a Steiner school.[7][8] Around 1920, the Yallingup Hall, which was previously a school building in Karridale, was moved to the townsite and reassembled.[9] Tourism and viticulture are Yallingup's primary industries.[10][4]
Yallingup is located 256 kilometres (159 mi) south of Perth and 34 kilometres (21 mi) west of Busselton in Western Australia's South West region. Yallingup experiences a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa/Csb). Residents and visitors experience moderate temperatures, with an average maximum temperature of 22 °C (72 °F) and a minimum of 11 °C (52 °F).
The beaches of Yallingup, such as Three Bears, Yallingup, Smiths Beach (including Supertubes), and Injidup, are well known surfing locations, and are also suitable for fishing.[4]
The Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park houses Canal Rocks, a coastal rock formation, and limestone caves, such as Ngilgi Cave (formerly called Yallingup Cave).[11]
The Cape to Cape Track runs across the beach to the west of the town and Yallingup is one of the few towns located along the track.[12]
Injidup Beach contains Injidup Natural Spa, also known as Wyadup Spa, a natural rock pool.[2][13]
Smiths Beach has been the site of multiple extended proposals for development[14] that have eventuated in political scandals.[15][16] A Smiths Beach development project was a subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission investigation in 2007, investigating former WA Premier Brian Burke and lobbyists Julian Grill and Noel Crichton-Browne, who lobbied the state government on behalf of developers. The Corruption and Crime Commission report concluded the Canal Rocks developer secretly paid more than $47,000 to candidates including Shire of Busselton Councillors Anne Ryan, Phillippa Reid, and John Triplett, in the Shire Council election and by-election in 2005. Funds were channelled to candidates via a local action group, in an attempt to delay revision to the town planning scheme so the development could be assessed under less strict conditions.[17][18][19]
Yallingup is home to many different types of bushland and wildlife. The surrounding area is made up of wet sclerophyllous[20][failed verification] forest. Yallingup is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia.
The Yallingup region is home to a diverse range of species including the western grey kangaroo and over 70 types of birds, creating a healthy ecosystem for the many mammals, reptiles and aviaries.[20] To maintain wildlife population the Western Australia government has placed sanctuary zones and nature reserves where minimal human life and impact can occur.[21]
Media related to Yallingup, Western Australia at Wikimedia Commons