Port Denison, Western Australia

For the port in Queensland, see Port Denison, Queensland.

Port Denison is a town of 3000 residents in the Mid West region of Western Australia. Its local government area is the Shire of Irwin and it is located 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southwest of Dongara on the Indian Ocean coast.

Port Denison Western Australia
Port Denison and its Boat Harbour, 2014
Port Denison
Coordinates	29°16′30″S 114°55′10″E
Population	1,452 (SAL 2021)[1]
Established	1867
Postcode(s)	6525
Elevation	10 m (33 ft)
Area	15 km2 (5.8 sq mi)
Location	4 km (2 mi) SSW of Dongara 365 km (227 mi) NNW of Perth
LGA(s)	Shire of Irwin
State electorate(s)	Moore
Federal division(s)	Durack

History

Port Denison was initially known as Irwin Port in 1866 due to its position near the mouth of the Irwin River. However, when it was officially named and gazetted in 1867, it was renamed in honour of Sir William Denison, a former Governor of Tasmania who in 1851 had visited Western Australia in connection with transportation of convicts.^[2]

Economy

Port Denison is the home port of a number of commercial fishermen that catch lobster (known as crayfish locally).^[3][4]