Donnybrook, Western Australia

Donnybrook Western Australia
Donnybrook Main Street
Donnybrook Location in Western Australia
Coordinates	33°35′S 115°49′E / 33.58°S 115.82°E / -33.58; 115.82Coordinates: 33°35′S 115°49′E / 33.58°S 115.82°E / -33.58; 115.82
Population	1,933 (2006 census)
Established	1894
Postcode(s)	6239
Elevation	63 m (207 ft)
Location	30 km (19 mi) from Bunbury
LGA(s)	Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup
State electorate(s)	Capel
Federal Division(s)	Forrest
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 23.0 °C 73 °F 9.6 °C 49 °F 986.0 mm 38.8 in

Donnybrook is a town situated between Boyanup and Kirup on the South Western Highway, 210 kilometres (130 mi) south of Perth, Western Australia. The town is the centre of apple production in Western Australia. The town is also known for its picturesque abundance of English Oak trees.

The town of Donnybrook was gazetted in 1894. It was first settled around 1842 when George Nash and others moved to the area. They named the place "Donnybrook" after the suburb of Dublin, Ireland that they came from. The eastern part of the town was formerly called Minninup. The western portion of the townsite is currently known as Irishtown.

The population of the town was 430 (294 males and 136 females) in 1898.

In 1897, Richard Hunter discovered gold about 6 kilometres south of the Donnybrook townsite. Hunter eventually sold out to Fred Camilleri (a well known prospector from Kalgoorlie) and Camilleri was able to interest the internationally renowned Polish geologist Modest Maryanski. It was on the basis of Maryanski's report that a new company "Donnybrook Goldfields Ltd" was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1899. A mini gold rush occurred, resulting in the Government gazetting the Donnybrook Goldfield - in the process making provision for a new town to be called "Goldtown". From the census of 1901, it was known over 200 gold miners were camped on the goldfields. The excitement was short-lived however, and the Hunters Venture mine closed in August 1903. The area was worked during the Great Depression by locals Laurie and Foster Payne, then re-pegged and explored during the 1980s and again from 2004-5.

Donnybrook is the home of Western Australia's apple industry. In 1900, the first Granny Smith apple tree was planted, and the apple orchard industry grew after World War I.

Apples are harvested between March and May, with apple blossoms prominent in October. Donnybrook's industries also include timber, beef, dairy and viticulture. Many visiting backpackers earn money by picking fruit from orchards in the area between November and June.