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Great Southern (western Australia)




The Great Southern region is one of the nine Regions Of Western Australia . It is made up of the south coast of Western Australia and neighbouring agricultural regions.

It is officially comprised of the Local Government Areas of Albany , Broomehill , Cranbrook , Denmark , Gnowangerup , Jerramungup , Katanning , Kent , Kojonup , Plantagenet , Tambellup and Woodanilling .

The Great Southern has an area of 39,007 square kilometres, and a population of about 54,000. Its administrative centre is the historic port of Albany . The region has a Mediterranean Climate , with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The economy of the Great Southern is dominated by Livestock farming and Crop -growing. It has some of the most productive Cereal Grain and Pastoral land in the state, and is a major producer of Wool and Lamb . Cool climate Wine production is expanding rapidly in the Mt Barker area. Albany is a major Fishing centre. The Great Southern coast, which has milder summer weather than areas on the west coast proper, is also a popular destination for Holiday makers, Tourists , Anglers and Surfers . . Fishing, tourism and leisure are significant industries in the Great Southern.]]

Noongar people have inhabited the region for tens of thousands of years. European settlement began with the establishment of a temporary British military base, commanded by Major Edmund Lockyer , at King George Sound (Albany) on Christmas Day , 1826 . Albany is consequently regarded as the oldest European settlement in Western Australia.


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