The small township of Quinninup is nestled amongst giant ancient Karri forests. The forest and bush land surrounding Quinninup offers a unique variety of flora and fauna and rare orchids only found in the forests of the South-West of Western Australia.

A short 25 minute drive south of Manjimup or east of Pemberton, Quinninup is situated at the corner of the historic stock route to the coast which is now Wheatley Coast Rd and the South-West Highway.

Quinninup, in the local Aboriginal language, means the "place of Zamia Palm" and was first settled in 1924 as part of the Group Settlement Scheme to assist migrants seeking a new life after World War One.

During this early period, many families started farming various fruit and vegetables, grazing cattle and sheep as well as poultry and pigs….for a short period even growing and drying of tobacco was a thriving industry.

The excellent soils of the region combined with the high rainfall, moderate summers and cool winters has helped make this region today’s “food bowl” for Western Australia.

Today, many of the original families still farm though we are seeing growth in new sectors including tourism, wine, marron and recently black truffles.

The 1930‘s and 40‘s witnessed a high demand for local Karri and Jarrah hardwood timber and in 1944 under private ownership the town was bought “lock stock and barrel” by Millars Timber and Trading Company.

Construction of a steam-powered timber mill began along with locomotive sheds, office buildings, cottages to house workers, a worker’s club (now the Quinninup Tavern) and community buildings together with a school by 1949.

The first log was pulled out in 1946….in it’s timber milling hey day the Quinninup township grew to over 250 people and the timber mill was said to be the biggest in the state.

By the 1980’s timber milling was in decline and in 1982 Millars Timber and Trading closed the mill and it was sold to a private developer.

Some structures, including some of the worker’s houses and the hall were dismantled and sold. However, most of the houses, the workers’ club, school and store remain.

The old mill houses and the new houses on the bush-blocks surrounding Karri Lake are now homes to the residents of Quinninup.

a new community is born...

The people, who came and are still coming to settle in Quinninup, Karri Lake Estate and her surrounds come because of the beautiful forests,
the perfect climate and the love of nature.