Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup

This article is about a local government area. For the town, see Donnybrook, Western Australia.

The Shire of Donnybrook Balingup is a local government area in the South West region of Western Australia, about 35 kilometres (22 mi) southeast of Bunbury and about 220 kilometres (137 mi) south of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of about 1,560 square kilometres (602 sq mi), and its seat of government is the town of Donnybrook.

Shire of Donnybrook Balingup Western Australia
Location in Western Australia
Population	6,155 (LGA 2021)[1]
Established	1970
Area	1,560.3 km2 (602.4 sq mi)
Shire President	Vivienne MacCarthy
Council seat	Donnybrook
Region	South West
State electorate(s)	Collie-Preston Warren-Blackwood
Federal division(s)	Forrest
Website	Shire of Donnybrook Balingup
LGAs around Shire of Donnybrook Balingup: Dardanup Collie Collie Capel, Busselton Shire of Donnybrook Balingup Boyup Brook Nannup Bridgetown Greenbushes Boyup Brook

History

The Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup was established on 26 March 1970 with the amalgamation of the Shire of Donnybrook and the Shire of Balingup. The merged shire initially retained the Donnybrook name, but adopted the Donnybrook-Balingup name on 17 July 1970.^[2] The new council was administered from Donnybrook.

The Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup is also home to a number of heritage-listed historic properties including Ferndale Homestead and Southampton homestead.

Indigenous people

The Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup is located on the traditional land of the Wardandi people of the Noongar nation.^[3][4][5]

Wards

In 2001 the Shire abolished wards and all nine councillors represent the entire shire.

Prior to this, four wards made up the council:

• Donnybrook (including Argyle, Irishtown and Beelerup)
• Preston (area east of Donnybrook including Lowden, Mumballup and Noggerup)
• Central (including Kirup, Upper Capel, Brazier, Newlands, Brookhampton and Thompsons Brook)
• Balingup (including Mullalyup, Grimwade, Upper Balingup, Southampton and Ferndale[Lower Balingup])

Towns and localities

The towns and localities of the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:^[6][7]

Locality	Population	Area	Map
Argyle	575 (SAL 2021)[8]	13.8 km2 (5.3 sq mi)
Balingup	565 (SAL 2021)[9]	88.5 km2 (34.2 sq mi)
Beelerup	126 (SAL 2021)[10]	27 km2 (10 sq mi)
Brazier	40 (SAL 2021)[11]	79 km2 (31 sq mi)
Brookhampton	249 (SAL 2021)[12]	54.3 km2 (21.0 sq mi)
Charley Creek	68 (SAL 2021)[13]	21.7 km2 (8.4 sq mi)
Cundinup *	62 (SAL 2021)[14]	156.5 km2 (60.4 sq mi)
Donnybrook	3,035 (SAL 2021)[15]	25 km2 (9.7 sq mi)
Glen Mervyn	47 (SAL 2021)[16]	37.8 km2 (14.6 sq mi)
Grimwade	0 (SAL 2016)[17][18]	50 km2 (19 sq mi)
Kirup	156 (SAL 2021)[19]	76.9 km2 (29.7 sq mi)
Lowden	165 (SAL 2021)[20]	44.7 km2 (17.3 sq mi)
Mullalyup	149 (SAL 2021)[21]	82.7 km2 (31.9 sq mi)
Mumballup	100 (SAL 2021)[22]	40.6 km2 (15.7 sq mi)
Newlands	112 (SAL 2021)[23]	23.4 km2 (9.0 sq mi)
Noggerup	99 (SAL 2021)[24]	194.9 km2 (75.3 sq mi)
Paynedale	60 (SAL 2021)[25]	76.5 km2 (29.5 sq mi)
Queenwood	79 (SAL 2021)[26]	34.3 km2 (13.2 sq mi)
Southampton	84 (SAL 2021)[27]	126.1 km2 (48.7 sq mi)
Thomson Brook	89 (SAL 2021)[28]	86.5 km2 (33.4 sq mi)
Upper Capel	177 (SAL 2021)[29]	107.9 km2 (41.7 sq mi)
Wilga West	18 (SAL 2021)[30]	178 km2 (69 sq mi)
Yabberup	162 (SAL 2021)[31]	68.6 km2 (26.5 sq mi)

• (* indicates locality is only partially located within this shire)

Heritage-listed places

Main article: List of State Register of Heritage Places in the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup

As of 2023, 113 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup,^[32] of which twelve are on the State Register of Heritage Places, among them the Southampton homestead.^[33]