__NOTOC__ The Swan Valley is a region in the upper reaches of the Swan River between Guildford and Bells Rapids,

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

. It is bordered to the east by the

Darling Scarp The Darling Scarp, also referred to as the Darling Range or Darling Ranges, is a low escarpment running north–south to the east of the Swan Coastal Plain and Perth, Western Australia. The escarpment extends generally north of Bindoon, to t ...

. Both Ellenbrook and

Jane Brook Jane may refer to: * Jane (given name), a feminine given name * Jane (surname), related to the given name Film and television * ''Jane'' (1915 film), a silent comedy film directed by Frank Lloyd * ''Jane'' (2016 film), a South Korean drama fi ...

lie within the region and discharge into the Swan River. There are seven suburbs within the region:

Baskerville Baskerville is a serif typeface designed in the 1750s by John Baskerville (1706–1775) in Birmingham, England, and cut into metal by punchcutter John Handy. Baskerville is classified as a transitional typeface, intended as a refinement of what ...

, Belhus, Caversham,

Henley Brook Henley may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Henley, Dorset, a List of United Kingdom locations: Hen-Hh#Hen, location * Henley, Gloucestershire, a List of United Kingdom locations: Hen-Hh#Hen, location * Henley-on-Thames, a town in South Oxfords ...

Herne Hill Herne Hill is a district in South London, approximately four miles from Charing Cross and bordered by Brixton, Camberwell, Dulwich, and Tulse Hill. It sits to the north and east of Brockwell Park and straddles the boundary between the borou ...

, Millendon and

West Swan West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some R ...

. It is part of the

City of Swan The City of Swan is a local government area of Western Australia. It is in the eastern metropolitan region of Perth and includes the Swan Valley and 42 suburbs. It is centred approximately 20 km north-east of the Perth central business ...

local government area. The Swan Valley

Australian Geographical Indication A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country). The use of a geographical indication, as an indication of the product's source, ...

is a sub-region of the larger Swan District_wine_region._Swan_Valley_was_registered_on_6_January_2003_following_Swan_District_being_registered_on_10_December_1998.

__History_

The_indigenous_heritage_of_the_region_is_over_40,000_years_old._The_Noongar_Aboriginal_people_of_the_Wadjuk_tribe,_who_are_the_traditional_landowners_of_the_Swan_Valley,_lived_here_before_the_colonial_invasion_began._As_per_the_beliefs_of_the_native_people,_the_Swan_Valley_was_created_by_a_serpent_named_Wagyl_who_is_still_believed_to_be_living_under_the_Swan_River. The_area_was_explored_in_1827_by_Captain_James_Stirling_(Australian_governor).html" ;"title="Swan District (wine region) redirects here--> wine region. Swan Valley was registered on 6 January 2003 following Swan District being registered on 10 December 1998.

History

The indigenous heritage of the region is over 40,000 years old. The Noongar Aboriginal people of the Wadjuk tribe, who are the traditional landowners of the Swan Valley, lived here before the colonial invasion began. As per the beliefs of the native people, the Swan Valley was created by a serpent named Wagyl who is still believed to be living under the Swan River. The area was explored in 1827 by Captain James_Stirling_later_to_become_governor_of_the_ James_Stirling_later_to_become_governor_of_the_Swan_River_Colony">James_Stirling_(Australian_governor)">James_Stirling_later_to_become_governor_of_the_Swan_River_Colony._Stirling_was_so_impressed_with_the_area_that_he_wrote_in_his_diary:Explorers'_Diaries_of_Western_Australia
/ref> When_Stirling_returned_to_establish_the_colony_in_1829_he_created_three_settlements:_

James_Stirling_later_to_become_governor_of_the_Swan_River_Colony">James_Stirling_(Australian_governor)">James_Stirling_later_to_become_governor_of_the_Swan_River_Colony._Stirling_was_so_impressed_with_the_area_that_he_wrote_in_his_diary:Explorers'_Diaries_of_Western_Australia
/ref> When_Stirling_returned_to_establish_the_colony_in_1829_he_created_three_settlements:_Fremantle,_Western_Australia">Fremantle_as_the_port;_Perth,_Western_Australia.html" "title="Fremantle,_Western_Australia.html" ;"title="Swan_River_Colony.html" ;"title="James Stirling (Australian governor)">James Stirling later to become governor of the Swan River Colony">James Stirling (Australian governor)">James Stirling later to become governor of the Swan River Colony. Stirling was so impressed with the area that he wrote in his diary:Explorers' Diaries of Western Australia
/ref> When Stirling returned to establish the colony in 1829 he created three settlements: Fremantle, Western Australia">Fremantle as the port; Perth, Western Australia">Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...

as the major commercial and political centre; and Guildford on the southern end of the Swan Valley region. Descendants of many of the early families still reside within the shire. Within the first ten years, two of Perth's oldest churches had been built there: the first wa
St. Mary's Church
in Middle Swan, followed by All Saints Church, Henley Brook built at the site of Stirling's 1827 camp. St. Mary's was rebuilt in 1869 but All Saints still retains its original structure and is thus Perth's oldest standing church.

Attractions

The Swan Valley is noted for its fertile soil, uncommon in the Perth region, and tourism-based destinations. These include numerous

wineries A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, b ...

such as the huge complex at what was once known as

Houghton Houghton may refer to: Places Australia * Houghton, South Australia, a town near Adelaide * Houghton Highway, the longest bridge in Australia, between Redcliffe and Brisbane in Queensland * Houghton Island (Queensland) Canada *Houghton Township, ...

, the state's biggest producer, and Sandalford and also many small family-owned concerns. There are also several

microbreweries Craft beer is a beer that has been made by craft breweries. They produce smaller amounts of beer, typically less than large breweries, and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as having an emphasis o ...

and

rum Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is usually aged in oak barrels. Rum is produced in nearly every sugar-producing region of the world, such as the Ph ...

and gin distilleries. The Swan Valley is served by roadside local-produce stalls which sell seasonal produce throughout the year. Grapes, melons, asparagus, stone fruits, citrus and strawberries are grown and sold in the Swan Valley. Swan Valley has a food element in the form of a chocolate factory, coffee roasters, several beekeepers, a lavender farm, olive groves, a goat farm, cheese farms, dried-fruit producers, restaurants and cafes. During October for many years the annual "Spring in the Valley" weekend took place; it was one of Australia's largest wine and food festivals. This community event ceased around 2009 due to excessive anti-social behaviour of some participants. However some of the smaller wineries in the area have banded together and still present some small scale events in the valley during spring. The West Australian Reptile Park is located in the valley at

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Swan Valley Tourist Information
{{Wine Regions of Western Australia Swan River (Western Australia) Wine regions of Western Australia Tourist attractions in Perth, Western Australia