Bluff Knoll

Bluff Knoll
Highest point
Elevation1,099 m (3,606 ft)[1]
Prominence650 m (2,130 ft)
Coordinates34°22′32″S 118°15′22″E / 34.37556°S 118.25611°E / -34.37556; 118.25611[1]
Geography
Parent rangeStirling Range

Bluff Knoll is the highest peak of the Stirling Range in the Great Southern region of Western Australia (WA). It is 1,099 metres (3,606 ft) above sea level,[1] with a prominence of 650 metres (2,130 ft). The local Aboriginal people, the Mineng and Koreng/Goreng sub-groups of the Noongar Nation, call the mountain Boola Miyel or Pualaar Miial, meaning 'great many-faced hill'[2] or 'many eyes', as the peak has rock formations that resemble eyes looking out across the valley.

The main access to the base of the walk trail is from Chester Pass Road. The Bluff Knoll trail is a round trip of about 6 kilometres (4 mi) taking three to four hours,[3] and has a grade 4 rating of climbing difficulty, with some steep and rough steps.[3] In 2020 many parts of the trail were destroyed in the Black Summer bushfires, and has since been upgraded and improved.[4] The view from the summit encompasses the Stirling and Porongurup mountain ranges, as well as the coast near Albany.

Due to its elevation, Bluff Knoll and the surrounding peaks of the Stirling Ranges are some of only a few places to experience regular snowfalls in Western Australia.[5] When snow is forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology it attracts hikers from all over the southwest region to experience it.

The peak was given its name by Governor James Stirling as the highest point in the Stirling Range.[6] Although Bluff Knoll is sometimes claimed to be the highest point in Western Australia,[6] the highest peak is actually Mount Meharry in Karijini National Park in the Hamersley Range, which is 1,249 metres (4,098 ft) above sea level.

  1. ^ a b c "Bluff Knoll". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government. 16 January 2004. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  2. ^ Laurie, Victoria (2015). The Southwest: Australia's Biodiversity Hotspot. Crawley, Western Australia: UWA Publishing. p. 101. ISBN 9781742585000.
  3. ^ a b "Bluff Knoll". Trails WA. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Bluff Knoll hike trail to reopen after bushfire". ABC News. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  5. ^ ABC Great Southern (4 July 2019). "Snow has been falling in Western Australia since records began". ABC News.
  6. ^ a b "Western Australian names". Sunday Times (Perth). No. 1568. Western Australia. 12 February 1928. p. 24. Retrieved 17 April 2017 – via National Library of Australia.