the gum trees
Five species of eucalypt tree unique to WA grow near the banks of the South-West's longest river, the Blackwood. Flowering at different times, these trees provide a year-round source of food for many nectar and seed eating birds and small mammals. They are the flooded gum, jarrah, yarri (blackbutt), marri and bullich.
living off the land
For thousands of years, the Nyoongar Bibbulmun people lived in and passed through this area. They used many local plants for food and drink, tools, shelter and medicine. These plants still grow along the Blackwood River.
forests utilised
The abundant natural forest resources of the area were also used by the early settlers who developed railway 'sleeper cutter' and 'hide' industries in the 1870’s. The valley was covered in extensive stands of jarrah, marri and yarri and was home to thousands of possums and water rats, valued for their pelts.
A glimpse of how these landscapes appeared before being modified by settlement is seen in the virgin jarrah forest at Noggerup, south of Mumballup.
trees for all seasons
Just south of Balingup is the Golden Valley Tree Park, developed from an old farm by the local community and the then Department of Conservation and Land Management (now DEC). Original groves of elm, oak, poplars and fruit trees have been enhanced with more recent plantings of a remarkable variety of Australian and exotic trees.
A land-use mosaic
Further south, several kilometres of Bibbulmun Track is shared with the 'Greenbushes Loop' walk trail, which links the Track to the once grand and bustling tin-mining township.
In the 1880’s tin mining and timber milling industries were established and extensive tracts were cleared for agriculture, particularly dairying and apple orchards, to supply WA's booming goldfields.
Views of the forests, plantations and picturesque farmlands of the Blackwood Valley dominate the walk south to the river crossing at Southampton Bridge.
nearly half way
Beyond, the jarrah forest continues until it makes way for the first sight of karri trees at Karri Gully on the Brockman Highway, which is almost the half-way point of the Track.
See more photos from this section.
See information about Balingup.