Mandurah, a city located 72 km south of Perth, Western Australia or 50 minutes drive from Perth. Its population has grown by leaps and bounds from the humble beginning of a few isolated holiday communities along the shores of the Peel-Harvey Estuary to the fastest growing regional city in Australia.
The name Mandurah is derived from the Aboriginal word Mandjar meaning “meeting place” or “trading place”.
Thomas Peel sailed from United Kingdom to Western Australia arriving in December 1829. In exchange for a piece of land in the Swan River Colony, he was to arrive no later than 1 November 1829. Due to his late arrival, the land was forfeited and Peel instead started a small settlement (named Clarence) south of Swan River Colony. Today, that place is called Woodman Point. Due to many problems and Peel’s own ill health, the settlers moved to what is known today as Mandurah.
Mandurah has a variety of wildlife and marine life such as dolphins, pelicans, shags and manna crab. The Noongyah Aboriginals are native to this area and other parts of south-west of Western Australia.
The Peel-Harvey Estuary is two times the size of Sydney Harbour and form the centre of Mandurah. This freshwater system runs into the Indian Ocean and its coastline consists of mainly sandy beaches. There are also artificially created canal systems here.
Mandurah enjoys Mediterranean weather with warm summers and cool winters similar to Perth.
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