THE PEEL REGION IN THE SOUTH WEST OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

A short drive south of Perth will take you to the Peel region of Western Australia. To the west the coast line runs the entire 150km length between Rockingham and Bunbury, passing the Yalgorup National Park and several lakes along the Old Coast Road.
A little further east the Kwinana Freeway leaves Perth and meets the Mandurah - Pinjarra Rd just east of Mandurah before continuing on as the Forrest Hwy to meet the Old Coast Highway in the Yalgorup National Park and takes you on to Bunbury, the largest town in the area.
The Peel region is mainly bounded by the Albany Highway in the west and you can return on a round trip through the Wheatlands district by taking the road east through Collie to Williams and returning north to Perth that way.
The Peel region is one of the nine regions of Western Australia and is about 75 km south of the state capital, Perth. Sub-regions of Peel include Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Murray (around Pinjarra and Dwellingup), Boddington, Waroona and Mandurah. Each has its own character and attractions to visit and Peel is rich in forests, ranges, farming land and National Parks and Reserves.
Parks and reserves offer everything from peaceful bush walks to white water rafting, surrounded by pristine native forests. Bush walking trails abound and the area is famous for its wildflowers, especially around September.
Along the coast you can explore underwater on a diving expedition, visit award-winning wineries, take some wonderful photographs around the marinas, cast a fishing line or a crabbing net, play a round on a world-class golf course, or just relax in a tent or caravan near the beach.
There are more than 130 sq km. of inland waterways in the Peel-Harvey estuary offering nearly every tupe of water activity you can imagine. There are beaches, abundant wildlife and great scenery.
Some 50 kilometres of coastline, provides swimming, surfing, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, diving, fishing and boating. At most places there are cosy hotels, cafes and restaurants where you can relax and take in the atmosphere.
The Peel Region, provides a quality range of activities, accommodation and gastronomic delights ideal for a short break within an hour of Perth. Varied accommodation is available including B&Bs, a luxury hotel, a beachfront chalet, a caravan park or a peaceful camp site.

Less than sixty minutes drive south from Perth and only 48 minutes by train, the Peel region is dominated by mining and mineral processing, with large reserves of bauxite, some gold and mineral sands, and an aluminium refinery. Inland other important economic sectors include agriculture and a substantial equine industry.
European settlement began with the establishment of the Swan River Colony in 1829, part of the northern coastal area of the Peel region. It was settled under a program known as the Peel Settlement Scheme, organised by Thomas Peel but was poorly administered, and many settlers died of malnutrition in the first few months. The surviving settlers abandoned the area, with some moving inland where they found more fertile soil.
In 1846, Western Australia's first mining operation was established at Yarrabah (near present-day Mundijong), mining lead, silver and zinc. The Jarrahdale timber mill, established in May 1872, became the state's largest timber operation, and led to the development of service centres for the timber industry along the Perth-Picton railway line at Mundijong, Waroona and Dwellingup. In recent times, the timber industry has declined, but the establishment of alumina refineries at Pinjarra and Wagerup, and gold mines at Boddington, have helped the local economy.