As the Track approaches Denmark, walkers experience everything the south coast has to offer, from breath taking views along far reaching beaches to sheltered heathlands from the wild winds.
a pioneering past
The area was first discovered in 1892 by Thomas Braidwood Wilson, an English explorer, while he was conducting an expedition from Frederickstown - later to become Albany. He named the river the Denmark River, after Dr Alexander Denmark RN, his friend and former tutor at Naval Medical College in England. Archaeological evidence tells us that Aborigines inhabited this area about 40,000 years ago. Fish traps in Wilson Inlet, and carbon from Aboriginal cooking fires in the sand from a cave near Ocean Beach have been discovered.
Wilson noted that 'the surrounding hills are of very fine soil and may be easily turned to good account' but Captain Thomas Bannister gave a more realistic account when he noted that it would require 'great physical and moral courage' to farm the area.
The first European land use was by graziers. In 1893, the Millar brothers set up a sawmilling operation to meet the needs of the Goldfields which used huge amounts of timber. The timber industry only lasted ten years, leaving only two or three families settled in the area from the original population of more than 2000. Following World War II, improvements in agriculture and a revival in timber cutting rejuvenated the district.
an inlet abundant with life
The Wilson Inlet, named by Governor Stirling after Thomas Braidwood Wilson, has an area of about 48 square kilometres. A sand bar forms at the mouth of the inlet, which means that for much of the year the inlet is isolated from the sea.
The Track takes walkers along the tranquil southern shore (on the Nullaki Peninsula), unique with protected waters and low, dense paperbark thickets. Waterbirds are in abundance and include large flocks of black swans, pelicans, ducks, cormorants, egrets and many migratory waders.
the southern most point
Entering the West Cape Howe National Park, which was subjected to a severe wildfire in 2002, walkers find themselves close to the southernmost point in Western Australia, Torbay Head. Beyond the cape lies the settlement of Torbay as well as the small settlements of Kronkup, Elleker and Grasmere. At one time each of these settlements were linked by a rail line from Denmark to Albany. Part of this line now forms a rail trail.
a windy coast
Walkers heading east through the West Cape Howe National Park are soon able to see the tremendous turbines of the Albany wind farm, across the blue waters of Torbay. The Tracks wends it way past all twelve turbines from the Hidden Valley campsite to Sand Patch. The wind farm is in an elevated position approximately 80m above the Southern Ocean. This height, proximity to the coastline and small distance to the electricity grid in Albany make this an exceptional wind farm site.
The Albany wind farm consists of twelve 1800kW wind turbines. These are from Germany, and were installed in October 2001 after 10 years of planning.
The turbines have a 65m tower and three 35m long blades (about the same size as the wings on a 747 Boeing Airplane).
At the time of manufacture these were the biggest available in the world, and they remain the largest to be installed in the southern hemisphere. The turbines operate automatically, with the three blades adjusted to maximise power output from any wind direction or strength. They have been designed to withstand the strongest winds likely in Albany and incorporate special lightning protection.
See more photos from this section.
See information about Denmark and Albany.