Lowden, Western Australia

Lowden
Western Australia
The Preston Valley Store at Lowden in April 2022
Map
Coordinates33°32′S 115°59′E / 33.53°S 115.98°E / -33.53; 115.98
Population165 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)6240
Area44.7 km2 (17.3 sq mi)
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup
State electorate(s)Collie-Preston
Federal division(s)Forrest
Localities around Lowden:
Wellington Forest Wellington Forest Yabberup
Queenwood Lowden Yabberup
Charley Creek Thomson Brook Thomson Brook

Lowden is a rural locality of the Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup in the South West region of Western Australia. The Preston River and the DonnybrookBoyup Brook Road run through the centre of the locality from east to west.[2][3]

Lowden and the Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup are located on the traditional land of the Wardandi people of the Noongar nation.[4][5][6]

The locality is home to four heritage listed sites, the Preston Valley Store, the Diverbrook Homestead, the Woodlands Homestead and Sunnyvale.[7] The Sunnyvale homestead and farm were established at Lowden in the early 1880s,[8] while the Woodlands Homestead dates back to 1892.[9][10]

Lowden was once a siding on the Donnybrook–Katanning railway, of which remnants can still be seen south of the Donnybrook–Boyup Brook Road at the Preston Valley Store. The railway line ceased operation in 1982.[11][12] The Lowden siding, which opened in 1908, was closed in 1985.[13]

Lowden is home to "Frogs Hollow", a collection of frog statues, similar to "Gnomesville", which lies 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) further north on Ferguson Road.[14]

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Lowden (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "SLIP Map". maps.slip.wa.gov.au. Landgate. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  3. ^ "NationalMap". nationalmap.gov.au. Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Map of Indigenous Australia". aiatsis.gov.au. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Catalog of Australian Aboriginal Tribes". www.samuseum.sa.gov.au. South Australian Museum. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Welcome to the Shire of Donnybrook Balingup". www.donnybrook-balingup.wa.gov.au. Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup. Retrieved 15 July 2024. The Shire of Donnybrook Balingup acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land, the Wardandi People of the Noongar Nation
  7. ^ "Heritage places search results: Lowden". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Sunnyvale". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Woodlands Homestead Group". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Shire of Donnybrook Balingup municipal heritage inventory" (PDF). www.donnybrook-balingup.wa.gov.au. Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Western Australia Railways Passenger Stations and Stops" (PDF). www.branchline.uk. The Branch Line Society. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Railway Precinct, Donnybrook: Register Entry Assessment Documentation". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  13. ^ Geoffrey Higham. "Back along the line" (PDF). www.geoproject.com.au. Geoproject Solutions Pty Ltd. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Frogs Hollow". donnybrookwa.com.au. Donnybrook Visitor Centre. Retrieved 15 July 2024.