About Walpole & Districts

Despite its small stature, the tidy town of Walpole and its surrounding districts is immensely proud of its place in the world, which is stunningly beautiful and is home to a rich natural and cultural heritage.

We honour and celebrate our place and our people in this series of articles:


Lest we forget those who served

As far as the Walpole, Nornalup & Districts Historical Society can gather, around 126 Walpole & Districts men and women have served Australia and her allies in war and peacekeeping missions since 1914, including 35 who served in World War I and 87 in World War II — extraordinary numbers… Continue reading

The last post

Early in 2014 a member of Walpole’s Tidy Towns group re-erected an old post on the corner of Pier Street and Cooper Lane. The axe cuts on the post sparked his interest. What was the significance of this post? What is its story? In 1927 a “group 138” settler built… Continue reading

Dorothy “Dot” Gunson

Dorothy “Dot” Gunson (nee Slater) was born in New South Wales in 1926. She was one of ten children. She met Lionel Gunson when he went to NSW after WWII and married him in 1949. The Gunsons moved to Western Australia, Lionel joined the Forestry Department, and they came to… Continue reading

The last exchange

1982 marked the end of an era in Walpole & Districts when the last two manual telelphone exchanges were connected to the subscriber trunk dialling (STD) network. Nornalup was the first to go in April 1982; Jarrah Glen in June 1982. Mrs Kirree Shaw manned the Nornalup exchange for 21… Continue reading

The first Tinglewood

One fateful day in October 1978, the community of Walpole & Districts woke to the news that Tinglewood Homestead, the renowned guest house, had been destroyed by fire. Feelings of shock and disbelief spread throughout the region at this news. The beautiful, historic property on the Deep River was an… Continue reading

The first train to Nornalup

In June 1929, an event of great significance for the settlers of Nornalup and Walpole and the group settlement areas took place when the first train steamed into the little town of Nornalup. Imagine the initial excitement of the settlers as they watched this link with the outside world steam… Continue reading

St. George’s remembers Sister Jane

St George’s Anglican Church has installed and named a bell in honour of Walpole & Districts pioneering nurse Sister Jane Anderson. Sister Jane from Ireland came to Walpole in 1930 under the auspices of the Colonial and Continental Church Society to provide nursing services for pioneers and their families in… Continue reading

The first Blessing of the Fleet?

These pictures were taken at Peaceful Bay during perhaps Walpole & Districts’ original Blessing of the Fleet. Molly Smith can’t believe she didn’t put the date on the back of the photos but thinks this event took place in the 1980s. The service was organised by Peaceful Bay Sea Rescue,… Continue reading