Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of the Mundaring area were the Nyungar Aboriginal people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from the 1840s. Land was used mainly for timber-cutting, quarrying, vineyards, orcharding and poultry farming. Population was minimal until the 1880s, with villages established mainly along the railway line and the Great Eastern Highway. Growth took place during the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, aided by the construction of the Mundaring Weir, improved access and tourism. The most significant development occurred in the post-war years, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. The population grew from about 9,000 in 1966 to 26,000 in 1986. Growth began to slow from the early 1990s, with the population increasing gradually from 29,000 in 1991 to nearly 36,000 in 2011.

Land use

The Shire of Mundaring is a predominantly rural area, with residential areas in numerous townships. The Shire encompasses a total land area of 644 square kilometres, of which nearly half is National Park, State Forest or water catchments. The bulk of the population live in the townships. Tourism is an important industry. Rural land is used mainly for farming, with some wineries in more recent years.

Transport

The Shire of Mundaring is served by the Great Eastern Highway and the Great Southern Highway.

Major features

• Major features of the Shire include Beelu National Park,
• Greenmount National Park,
• John Forrest National Park,
• Wooroloo Regional Park,
• Mundaring Weir,
• Lake C Y O'Connor,
• Lake Leschenaultia,
• Chidlow Recreation Reserve,
• The Railway Reserves Heritage Trail,
• The Munda Biddi Bike Trail,
• Perth Hills National Parks Centre,
• Mundaring Golf Club,
• several State Forests and various wineries.

Included areas