North Dandalup, Western Australia

North Dandalup is a small town in the Peel region of Western Australia along the South Western Highway between Serpentine and Pinjarra. Its local government area is the Shire of Murray. At the 2011 census, North Dandalup had a population of 346.^[2]

North Dandalup Western Australia
North Dandalup Memorial Hall
Coordinates	32.519°S 115.968°E / -32.519; 115.968
Population	242 (UCL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)	6207
Area	92.8 km2 (35.8 sq mi)
Location	71 km (44 mi) from Perth 15 km (9 mi) from Pinjarra 22 km (14 mi) from Dwellingup
LGA(s)	Shire of Murray
State electorate(s)	Murray-Wellington
Federal division(s)	Canning
Localities around North Dandalup: Nambeelup Keysbrook Keysbrook Nambeelup North Dandalup Keysbrook Ravenswood Meelon Meelon

History

The name "Dandalup", a Noongar name relating to the rivers in the area, was shown on maps from 1835 onwards, but its meaning is unclear. When the Pinjarra to Picton Junction railway was joined to Perth in 1894, North Dandalup, near where the river of that name crossed the railway, was noted as a stopping place.^[3]

Whittaker's timber railway ran from North Dandalup into the Darling Ranges where they had been granted a forestry concession of 36,000 acres (150 km²).^[4]

Land for a school was set aside in 1899 and the school commenced operations in April 1900. A town hall and recreation ground were built in 1915. The town was gazetted in 1972, a year after work began on the construction of the nearby South Dandalup Dam. On 28 October 1994, the $50 million North Dandalup Dam was opened 6 km from the town.^[5]

Present day

North Dandalup today has a primary school, hall, convenience store and fuel station. The nearby North Dandalup Dam offers recreational facilities and activities. It lies close to the North Dandalup Important Bird Area.

A new estate development, Dandalup Springs^[6] is under construction with titles for stage one due for release. 122 lots will be released in phase one with a further 100 lots (approximately) in phase two. This estate will see the population of North Dandalup more than double.^[timeframe?]

Transport

North Dandalup is located on the South Western Highway, and the turnoff for Dwellingup, Western Australia for travellers from Perth, Del Park Road, is located in the town.

It is a stopping place for the Australind passenger train from Perth to Bunbury.

Preceding station	Transwa			Following station
Serpentine towards Perth		Australind (closed until 2025)		Pinjarra towards Bunbury