Towns and Settlements

Mount Barker

Mount Barker is the major town within the Shire of Plantagenet and is located 50km north of Albany. Mount Barker is a significant service centre for the surrounding agricultural areas and it plays an important role in the region.

Kendenup

Kendenup is located approximately 20 kilometres north of Mount Barker and to the east of Albany Highway. The Great Southern railway line passes the eastern boundary of the town. The settlement pattern of Kendenup consists of 595 lots and reserves in the town which is the centre of the district. The pattern surrounding the town contains a range of relatively small rural lots from west of Albany Highway to the east of the Great Southern railway line.

Narrikup

Narrikup is located approximately 18 kilometres south of Mount Barker and to the west of Albany Highway. The village provides an attractive alternative lifestyle to the larger regional towns and it has good accessibility to both Mount Barker and Albany. Narrikup has been an important growth area within the Shire and its main attraction has been its small scale village character and its role as a service centre for surrounding rural areas.

Porongurup

The Porongurup area is rich in natural and cultural heritage value. The area has a diversity of flora, fauna and is within the South-West botanical province which has been identified as one of the world's 25 biodiversity 'hot spots'. The peaks in the Porongurup National Park are an important landscape feature and the Porongurup Range is the dominating physical characteristic of the area. As well as being a highly desirable place to live, the area has long been recognised as a significant tourist attraction. The National Park attracts more than 45,000 visitors per year.

Rocky Gully

Rocky Gully is a rural village located on the southern side of Muir Highway at the western end of the Shire and some 68km from Mount Barker. The town was established as part of the war service settlement scheme in the 1950's. It also served as a centre for timber milling. With the decline in timber milling and changing rural land practices, it has reverted to being a small service centre for the surrounding rural area.