Dwellingup is situated in a timber and fruit-growing district east of Pinjarra, and can be found on Bibbulmun Track map 2 - Dwellingup. It has a population of around 400, and the name is derived from the Nyoongar word for "place of nearby water".
The town was established as a timber milling settlement, late in the 19th century. Most of the bush railways that served the old sawmills are gone, but a steam train still operates on the line between Dwellingup and Etmylin. In its early days, Dwellingup was a busy town, with a hotel so popular it was common for a thirsty latecomer to be unable to get into the bar! Sadly, almost all of the original buildings, with the exception of the post office, hotel and nursing post, were destroyed in the catastrophic bushfire of 1961.
In January 2007, Dwellingup was once again declared a natural disaster area when a massive bushfire, the biggest since 1961, destroyed several homes and businesses when it came within 1km of the town. The State Government also declared a bushfire emergency period while other fires around the state stretched emergency services. The Dwellingup fire burnt more that 13,700 ha with a perimeter of 100km and was suspected to have been deliberately lit. All power and communications to the town were cut and many roads were inaccessible for quite some time. Although several recreation sites were destroyed, the Bibbulmun Track escaped untouched.
Handy contacts
Getting there
Dwellingup is located 113km south of Perth, a drive of approximately one and a half hours from Perth city centre. From the city, travel south on the South Western Highway to North Dandalup and turn left on Del Park Road. Dwellingup is a further 25kms.
Dwellingup is located 96km south of Kalamunda, a drive of one hour and 20 minutes.
The next Track town south of Dwellingup is Collie, a drive of 89km, which takes approximately one hour and 20 minutes.
There is no public transport to Dwellingup. Trains go from Perth City railway station to Pinjarra, which is the nearest train station to Dwellingup, situated 27km away along the Pinjarra-Williams Road.
Business Class Transfers (BCT) can transfer you from anywhere in the Perth CBD or country WA to Dwellingup or any vehicle access point on the Track. Call 1300 763 005 for a quote.
The Hotham Valley Tourist Railway's Pinjarra Steam Ranger travels between Pinjarra and Dwellingup from May to October on Wednesdays and Sundays, following the completion of repairs to several rail bridges burnt out by the Dwellingup fire of January 2007. Contact the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway on 9221 4444 for more information. Alternatively Pinjarra offers taxi and bus charter services.
Accommodation & service providers
Accommodation of all types can be found in Dwellingup. The town has a few cafés and the local community hotel, which is open seven days a week. It also has a post office and a general store where walkers can restock with food and supplies. There is no pharmacy in Dwellingup but a nursing post is open on some weekdays. There are no banks but there are usually cash machines at the general store and the hotel.
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The Bibbulmun Track Accommodation & Services Guide has extensive information about walker-friendly services, their location in and between towns, and discounts offered to members. The Guide contains 144 pages of essential information at a cost of only $12 RRP.
Along the Track…
Seven kilometres south of the Albany Highway crossing, the giant granite mound of Boonerring Hill rises above the jarrah forest, providing spectacular 360-degree views. Further along, the low peaks of the weathered granite of White Horse Hills offer more views. In Spring, stunning wildflowers are to be seen amongst the granite.
The old firewatcher's hut, positioned on the summit of Mt Wells, also provides excellent 360-degree views from its fire tower. The hut itself, which is a replica of the original that was destroyed in bush fires of 1961, has been converted to a Bibbulmun Track shelter. Here, walkers can experience something of bygone times, when the firewatchers would spend months living in the hut, keeping a look out for bushfires. On the southern side of Mount Wells, walkers may hear the sounds from one of Australia’s largest open pit gold mines, which has been in operation in the vicinity since 1987.
From Mt Wells the Track follows the old rail line for 15 kms, through mixed jarrah/marri forest into Dwellingup.
Just south of the town, the Track enters the Lane Poole Reserve and runs parallel to the Murray River on its east side for some 50 kilometres, before crossing it on the historic, timber Long Gully Bridge. The Murray is the largest river in the Darling Range with no dams, and provides expansive valley views and tranquil riverside scenery. The Nyoongar people used this fertile river valley as a natural access route to the inland wandoo woodland hunting areas. Melaleuca thickets and flooded gum woodlands fringe the river.
Soon after leaving the river, the Track passes under the Worsley Alumina conveyor near the Harvey-Quindanning Road crossing, a popular starting point for day or overnight walks on the Track.
Suggested walks
Day walks:
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Etmilyn Siding to Dwellingup one-way (9km). To get to Etmilyn Siding, catch the Hotham Valley Tourist train from Dwellingup (service only available occasionally, usually on weekends – check with the HVTR on 9221 4444 first) up to Etmilyn Siding. Initially, the Track follows close to the railway line.
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Nanga Road to Swamp Oak campsite return (14.2km). Travel 1km east from Dwellingup town centre on the Pinjarra-Williams Road, turn right down Nanga Road and travel for 4.5km to the Track crossing.
Overnight walks:
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Dwellingup to Swamp Oak campsite return (26km, two days, one night)
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North Bannister to Dwellingup one-way (67km, four days, three nights)
For more information visit our day walk webpage and check out the Dwellingup day walk map pack which has further suggestions.
Collie is the next town south of Dwellingup. Dwellingup to Collie is a walk of 122.1km, which takes approximately seven days, six nights.
Mundaring is the next town north of Dwellingup – Dwellingup to Kalamunda is a walk of 180kms, which takes approximately thirteen days, twelve nights.
The North Bannister roadhouse, north of Dwellingup, is accessible via a spur trail from the Track, a walk of 67km (four days, three nights).