| Ongerup | |
Location: | 410km southeast of Perth |
Shire: | Gnowangerup |
Population: | 100 |
Postcode: | 6336 |
First settled in 1870 by the Moir family, the settlement of the Ongerup district was accelerated in 1910 when the government surveyed the land into blocks for farming. By 1913 the railway line had reached the town and development continued with large tracts of land being cleared for pastoralists.
Today the main industries include wool and sheep for live export as well as wheat, barley, peas and oat cropping. The influence of the wool industry on the region is celebrated every year during the 'Ongerup Shears' competition in September. The event is staged in a working farm shearing shed and attracts shearers from around the world.
The railway was closed in 1957 but the railway barracks are still standing and now house the Ongerup Museum which displays the natural history of the region.
The native flora and birdlife of the area can be seen at Cowalellup Reserve, 19 kilometres south of the town, where ornithologists have recorded over 160 species of birds, including the rare night parrot, mallee fowl, bustards and a plethora of water birds.
To the north, Vaux Lake is a popular recreation and picnic spot.
The annual wildflower display between September and October each year is considered to be one of the best in the State.