Heritage & Culture

Lovers of history will adore Denmark. The Denmark area combines a beautiful setting with an intriguing history and a growing cultural awareness.

The first people to arrive in the Denmark area were Aborigines, thought to be about 40,000 years ago. The Denmark area was known to local Noongars (Aborigines) as Kurrabup which means 'place we return to'. Signs of Noongar culture, such as fish traps, and ochre and dolerite quarries, can still be seen in the area.

On the 9th December 1829, Lieutenant Surgeon Wilson stood on the summit of Mt Lindesay and took in the magnificent panoramic view. Of this he wrote "I have seen many far famed views in the four ancient divisions of the globe and have no hesitation in saying of this, the fifth, if it did not surpass, fell but little short of them". The next day, Wilson came to a river on the south side of Mt Lindesay. Wilson named this the Denmark River, after Dr Alexander Denmark, who served in the Royal Navy from 1814 to 1835.

In 1895, European settlers moved into the Denmark region seeking the magnificent timber that once grew throughout the region. In the 19th century streets in London were paved in timber blocks cut from trees that grew here. The timber industry lasted only a decade although it did receive a boost after the second World War when the demand for building products soared.

The first European land use was by graziers and, in 1893, the Millar brothers set up a sawmilling operation on the Denmark River to meet the needs of the Goldfields which used huge amounts of timber...and here the story of the town of Denmark began.

The introduction of the Group Settlement Scheme in the 1920's brought significant change to the area. Small farms of 40 hectares were developed to create pastures for cattle, dairying and orchards.

Tourism commenced in the early 1930's and after the second World War Denmark became a popular holiday destination for Western Australian's. Denmark has now come of age as a 'must visit" destination for tourists from all over the world.

Denmark Historical Museum

The museum is a good place to explore stories of early settlement.  Located in Mitchell Street, it houses an impressive collection of early photographs, artifacts and documents. The museum is open Tuesdays (2pm-4pm), Thursdays (10am-12noon, 2pm-4pm) and Sundays (2pm-4pm). Phone 9848 1539.

Take a guided Historical Tour

Learn about Denmark's history with an expert guide. Small group tours (2 hours) depart from the Denmark Visitor Centre. Bookings essential. Contact the Out of Sight Tours Desk in the Denmark Visitor Centre on (08) 9848 2814 or email us to secure your place.