Capel

 

 

CAPEL

 

GPS 33 32 57 S 115 33 27 E

 

 

 

FIND ACCOMMODATION

 

Bunbury

Nearby Towns

Boyanup

Busselton

Donnybrook

 

 

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STATISTICS

Distance from Perth

204 Km

Population

2201

Average Rainfall

672.4mm

Mean Max Temp

23.2C

Mean Min Temp

10.2C

 

SERVICES

Police

08 9722 2111

Fire and Rescue

08 9752 2713

Medical

08 9727 2227

Visitor Centre

08 9727 0222

 

CARAVAN PARKS

See Busselton

 

HOTEL / MOTEL / B AND B

Ardenvale

08 9731 7148

Colomberie BandB

08 9795 7734

Crouchs House

08 9795 7642

Joy and Peters

08 9795 8336

Tren Creek Chalets

08 9727 1279

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

 

link to Mingor.net website

 

DESCRIPTION

 

Capel is a farming area and the town is relatively small.

Situated between Bunbury and Busselton it is just off the main highway and due to this is often bypassed by travellers heading to the larger centres.

Capel has not suffered the large development of it's larger neighbours and retains a pleasant country town atmosphere.

The shire has 29 kilometres of coastline that is ideal for swimming, fishing and boating. Although there are no boat ramps in the shire, boats can be beach launched at Forest, Peppermint Grove, Minninup and Dalyellup beaches.

The town is motorhome friendly and offers a 24 hour rest area for self-contained vehicles. Vehicles that are not self-contained need to stay at the caravan park. A black water dump point is also available in town although you do need to contact the shire for access.

A free overnight campsite is also available at Ironstone Gully Falls.

Iluka Resources operates ilmenite mines north and south of the town and produce synthetic rutile.

 

HISTORY

 

Early exploration of the area was undertaken by Lt. Bunbury who travelled along the Capel River in 1836. The original name was Coolingup and the first settler in the area was a Mr. Child who arrived in 1843. He constructed Minninup Homestead which is made from locally quarried limestone.

The name may originate from Capel Carter Bussell (John Bussell's eldest daughter), but some sources say that Capel Carter, a very close cousin, who the Bussels wrote to frequently was the origin of the name. It seems most likely that John's daughter was named in honour of Capel Carter - who died of consumption - and so the credit for the towns name should really go to her in any case.

The name chosen for the site was originally Coolingup (1844) but when the site finally started to develop the official name chosen was Capel and this was gazetted in 1899.

Mineral sand mining started in the area in 1956.

 

TALL TALES AND TRUE

 

Horse whipped!

Road board elections for the Wellington district in 1873 were the catalyst for an ongoing feud to boil over.

Dr. Lovegrove and Mr. Carey were standing against one another and at one point they clashed in the street. Lovegrove attacked Carey with a horse whip and as a result people voted Carey on to the board. Lovegrove was charged and brought before a Perth magistrate who gave him a mere hour in gaol and a 25 pound fine.

Eye Eye Sir!

A local character in the area was one Denny Connell who was thought to be a bit eccentric.

On one occasion he was blowing out stumps with gelignite and lost an eye. Without mentioning it to anyone he walked to Bunbury for medical care.

Later after visiting a doctor and being told to take a dose of medicine in water, he waded into the Capel River to take each dose.

On yet another occasion he was travelling to Perth by train and lost his much loved hat out the window. Unperturbed he marked a cross in the dust on the glass proclaiming that he would now know where to find it on the return journey.

 

MAP

 

 

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OTHER INFORMATION

 

ATTRACTIONS

 

Forest, Peppermint Grove, Minninup and Dalyellup beaches, Capel Vale Winery.

 

BUILDINGS OF NOTE

 

Minninup homestead 1848.

 

ELECTORAL ZONES

 

State : Collie-Preston

Federal : Forrest

 

OTHER INFO.

 

Postcode : 6271

Local Government : Shire of Capel

 

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