Kirup, originally named Upper Capel, then Kirupp, is situated between Donnybrook and Balingup on the South Western Highway, south of

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

, Western Australia in the upper reaches of the Capel River valley. Kirup is one of the three main town sites within the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup.

History

Kirup and the Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup are located on the traditional land of the Wardandi people of the

Noongar The Noongar (, also spelt Noongah, Nyungar , Nyoongar, Nyoongah, Nyungah, Nyugah, and Yunga ) are Aboriginal Australian people who live in the South West, Western Australia, south-west corner of Western Australia, from Geraldton, Western Aus ...

nation. European settlement at Upper Capel (south-east of the current locality of Upper Capel) began in the 1870s with Joseph Cookworthy's ''Rockfield'' cattle station, managed by John Moore. At that time all supplies were transported from Bunbury by bullock wagon, or horseback. By 1890 Upper Capel could field a cricket team, which played teams from Ferguson, Upper Preston and Greenbushes. In 1897 gold was discovered 12 miles to the north at Donnybrook, and by 1898 prospecting had extended to the Upper Capel, where three prospecting areas were staked. The Upper Capel railway siding was constructed in late 1897 as part of the new Donnybrook to

Bridgetown Bridgetown (UN/LOCODE: BB BGI) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Barbados. Formerly The Town of Saint Michael, the Greater Bridgetown area is located within the Parishes of Barbados, parish of Saint Michael, Barbados, Saint Mic ...

railway line. The new line allowed George Baxter to develop a 15,000 acres timber concession. Baxter established Preston Jarrah Sawmills, with a long woodline spur into his concession from Upper Capel siding. The mill produced timber for export through Bunbury, sleepers for the Menzies-Leonora railway, the New Zealand government and for the South African and New South Wales railways, and timber for new harbour works at Fremantle. In 1901 a townsite was surveyed and gazetted, adjacent to the Upper Capel railway station. The Upper Capel Roads Board (headquartered at Balingup) proposed that the town be called "Keerup", the Noongar name for the area, thought to mean "place of the summer flies". Following World War I Kirup and East Kirup (now called Grimwade) were part of the Soldier Settlement Scheme, in which larger historical landholdings such as the Ravenscliffe Estate (2,311 acres), Brazier Estate (1,350 acres) and Ryall Estate (900 acres) were repurchased by the government and subdivided for settlement by returned servicemen.

Economy

Kirup's major industries are organic horticulture, apple, pear and cherry orcharding, fruit packing and cattle breeding. It is famed for Kirup Syrup, a red wine originally made by Alberto Vinci at his local vineyard.

Notable residents

*Lieutenant Colonel Noel Brazier (1866–1947), second owner of ''Rockfield'', founder and Commanding Officer of the 10th Light Horse Regiment

Notes

References

{{authority control Timber towns in Western Australia Towns in Western Australia Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup Noongar place names