Kirup, Western Australia

Kirup
Town
Kirup Tavern and Deli
Coordinates:
Country	Australia
State	Western Australia
LGA	Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup
Location	228 km (142 mi) south west of Perth 13 km (8.1 mi) north of Balingup
Established	1901
Government
• State electorate	Collie-Preston
• Federal division	Forrest
Elevation	194 m (636 ft)
Population
• Total
Postcode	6251
Localities around Kirup Newlands Brookhampton Thomson Brook Brazier Kirup Grimwade Brazier Mullalyup Mullalyup

Kirup, originally named Upper Capel, then Kirupp, is situated between Donnybrook and Balingup on the South Western Highway, 228 kilometres (142 mi) south of Perth, Western Australia in the upper reaches of the Capel River valley.

Kirup is one of the three main town sites within the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup.

History

Kirup and the Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup are located on the traditional land of the Wardandi people of the Noongar nation.

European settlement at Upper Capel (south-east of the current locality of Upper Capel) began in the 1870s with Joseph Cookworthy's Rockfield cattle station, managed by John Moore. At that time all supplies were transported from Bunbury by bullock wagon, or horseback. By 1890 Upper Capel could field a cricket team, which played teams from Ferguson, Upper Preston and Greenbushes.

In 1897 gold was discovered 12 miles to the north at Donnybrook, and by 1898 prospecting had extended to the Upper Capel, where three prospecting areas were staked.

The Upper Capel railway siding was constructed in late 1897 as part of the new Donnybrook to Bridgetown railway line. Later extended and known as the Northcliffe railway line, passenger services ceased in the late 20th century. The new line allowed George Baxter to develop a 15,000-acre (6,100 ha) timber concession. Baxter established Preston Jarrah Sawmills, with a 5-mile (8.0 km) long woodline spur into his concession from Upper Capel siding. The mill produced timber for export through Bunbury, sleepers for the Menzies-Leonora railway, the New Zealand government and for the South African and New South Wales railways, and timber for new harbour works at Fremantle.

In 1901 a townsite was surveyed and gazetted, adjacent to the Upper Capel railway station. The Upper Capel Roads Board (headquartered at Balingup) proposed that the town be called "Keerup", the Noongar name for the area, thought to mean "place of the summer flies".

Following World War I Kirup and East Kirup (now called Grimwade) were part of the Soldier Settlement Scheme, in which larger historical landholdings such as the Ravenscliffe Estate (2,311 acres), Brazier Estate (1,350 acres) and Ryall Estate (900 acres) were repurchased by the government and subdivided for settlement by returned servicemen.

Economy

Kirup's major industries are organic horticulture, apple, pear and cherry orcharding, fruit packing and cattle breeding. It is famed for Kirup Syrup, a red wine originally made by Alberto Vinci at his local vineyard.

Notable residents

• Lieutenant Colonel Noel Brazier (1866–1947), second owner of Rockfield, founder and Commanding Officer of the 10th Light Horse Regiment