Greenough, Western Australia. A non-specific town, but rather the populated shire surrounding the city of Geraldton. Pristine, rolling pastures and with a wildlife rich river to tempt you to explore, the area is really remarkable.
Natural attractions abound with great beaches, stunning wildflowers and an interesting and evident history. Its a great place to simply soak up the Australian peace and quiet before heading north to the more cosmopolitan setting of Geraldton.
Greenough is situated in the Mid-West area of Australia's Coral Coast tourist region. Greenough faces west to the Indian Ocean. The Greenough River flows through the shire to the Indian ocean and the magnificent Abrolhos Islands are also close offshore.
Use the controls on the map (slide up), to zoom in for a detailed view.
Greenough River Nature Trail
Walk or ride along this scenic nature track which runs next to the Greenough River to its mouth at the Indian Ocean. Observe the various species of Australian waterbirds and other native wildlife. Guided walks are available and there are ample places for family BBQs and picnics
Ellendale Pool
Relax for an afternoon at this freshwater lake, which lies beneath spectacular sandstone cliffs. A great spot for Australian bird watching and photography and there are also places here for BBQs and picnics. There are no crocodiles here which makes it safe for swimming
Flat Rocks
This area of Western Australia's coastline is a must for every keen surfer who passes through. It's a great place to surf, fish or simply swim, as the reefs along the beaches create excellent conditions. The natural scenery of the Western Australian coastline is also breathtaking
Leaning Trees
View and photograph these unique leaning trees (Eucalyptus Camaldulensis), which have horizontal trunks created by the salt laden winds which roll off the Indian Ocean. The trees are a rare sight to behold and so it is worth taking the time to come and see them
Experiencing a Mediterranean climate, Greenough has very pleasant weather. Rainfall in the region is lower, because the cold front's of the south do not pass regularly enough to reach Greenough and the town is not affected by cyclones. In summer thunderstorms are frequent. In Summer (December to February), the average maximum temperature is 31°C with an average minimum temperature of 18°C. In Winter (June to August), the average maximum temperature is 20°C with an average minimum temperature of 10°C.
The valley where Greenough now stands was first explored by George Grey in 1839 and is named after his sponsor Sir George Bellas Greenough. In 1851, due to pressure from pastoralists, 30 000 acres of pasture were opened up and at the time was the largest pastoralist settlement north of Perth. The Greenough Flats were first settled in 1852 and within a few years had developed into a highly successful wheat growing area.
In the next decade most of the buildings were constructed and with a population of over 1000 wheat farmers, the town quickly matured with a school, police station and general store. The success of the settlement was short-lived. A cyclone in 1872, flooding in 1888, and adversely affected wheat from red rust forced many settlers out by 1900.
If you plan to holiday in Western Australia, the West-Oz e-Newsletter is a must read. Packed full of local information, promotions, links and photographs. Each issue is presented in an attractive, easy to read manner and is delivered to your e-mail, once per month.
