Peel
Peel is one of the nine regions that comprise the state of Western Australia. This coastal region begins about 75 km south of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, and extends south to Bunbury. The coast of Peel is along Geographe Bay. The total area of the region is 6,648 square kilometres. Approximately 88,000 people live in and around the cities of Peel, which include Mandurah, Murray, the Shires of Boddington, and Waroona.
Pre-History of Peel
Although Peel is Western Australia’s smallest region, it is certainly not its least exciting. Before Europeans settled in Peel, it was inhabited by the indigenous Noongar people, who controlled much of the area around the southwestern capes: West Cape Howe, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape Naturaliste. This particular group of Noongar is known as the Pindjarup, or “people of the wetlands.”
Discovery of Peel
Dutch sailors were the first Europeans to sight what is now Peel in 1619. They visited the area several more times in the 17th century. In the early 19th century, the French and the Australian-born explorer Phillip Parker King would explore the area. One of the first European settlements in Peel was the Swan River Colony. It was established in 1829 by the British. The Swan River Colony was used as a base for further exploration of Western Australia. At the colony, Thomas Peel organised the Peel Settlement Scheme whereby the British would settle the region.
The Peel Settlement Scheme ended in disaster, as Thomas Peel mishandled the project and settlers began to die of malnutrition in only the first months after settlement. Those who survived moved further inland where the soil was more fertile and suitable for planting.
Settlement of Peel
The first permanent settlements in Peel were the result of the first mining expeditions in Western Australia. Peel was found to be rich in natural resources, and in 1846, the mine at Yarrabah, near what is today Mundijong, became a leading source of silver, zinc, and lead. Another resource in the region was lumber. The lumber mill at Jarrahdale was established in 1872 and went on to be the Western Australia’s largest.
The mines and the lumber mill led to the development of services for the workers, and eventually the Perth-Picton railway was established along Mundijong and Waroona.
Economy of Peel
Peel’s economy today is still largely dependent on mining and the processing of the raw minerals from the mines. Large aluminum mines and aluminum processing plants are in Pinjarra and Wagerup. In addition, several successful gold mines were established at Boddington. Other minerals from the area include bauxite and mineral sands. In addition to mining, Peel is also a centre for agriculture and horses.
Peel Harvey Estuary
One of the most notable natural features of Peel is the Peel Harvey Estuary. It is a partially enclosed system of rivers, streams, and lakes beginning west of Mandurah and extending south. The estuary is rich in marine and avian wildlife. It is a well-known recreational area for boaters. They Old Coast Road and the Forrest Highway go through the estuary and are the main roads from Perth to Bunbury.