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Denmark is a town and local government area located 423 km south-south-east of Perth, Western Australia and has a surface of 1,834 km2. The population of the Shire of Denmark population is approximately 5,161.

General
The Shire of Denmark is situated on the south coast of Western Australia, about 50 km west of Albany. The urban area is located on the banks of the Denmark River, which flows into the Wilson Inlet, seasonally connected to the Southern Ocean. There is a lot of pasture, but the major part of the Denmark Shire consists of bush land and wilderness. The 100 km long coast line has over 15 beaches, surrounded by dunes, rocks and cliffs. Denmark has a Mediterranean climate with relatively dry summers and wet winters. The average annual rainfall is about 1,000 mm. The average day temperature in summer is 25° C, in winter 16° C. Denmark was named after the Denmark River in 1896. The inhabitants are sometimes called Denmarkians.

Population
For many years Denmark was a typical rural town with mainly timber milling, orcharding, beef cattle and dairy farming. A suitable combination of soil and climate later attracted wine growers, which resulted in an important wine industry, although tourism has become the fastest growing business in Denmark. Apart from blue gum plantations for wood chips supply to Japan, Denmark has no heavy industry. There is some commercial fishing, but Denmark has no harbour. The town is home to the Denmark College of Agriculture.

The estimated population figure of the Denmark Shire is 5,161. According to the 2006 census, 1% were Indigenous, 70% were Australian-born, 12.3% were born in Britain, 1.9% were born in New Zealand, 1.2% were born in Germany and 1% were born in the Netherlands. The population is diverse and retains characteristics of the several waves of settlement to the district – including “old Denmarkians”, Group Settlers, Soldier Settlers and the alternative (hippie) movement. Denmark's population is a colourful mix of different characters, individualists, followers of natural care, spiritualists, naturalists, artisans, artists and retired people from all parts of the world. Some of them see Denmark more or less as a sanctuary.

Much attention is given to cultural activities and Denmark Arts organizes festivals, art markets, exhibitions, gigs and workshops for the local community. Protecting native flora and fauna and environmental care in general are important items for many Denmarkians. Denmark was awarded the title of "Australia’s Tidiest Town" in 1998.

History
The coast line of the Denmark area was observed for the first time in 1627 by the Dutchman François Thijssen, captain of the ship 't Gulden Seepaert (The Golden Seahorse). Captain Thijssen had discovered the south coast of Australia and charted about 1,800 km of it between Cape Leeuwin and Nuyts Archipelago. Thijssen named the discovered land after Pieter Nuyts, a high employee of the Dutch East India Company, who was aboard ship as a passenger. His name lives on in the Nuytsia florabunda, the Western Australian Christmas tree.

Two centuries later, when the first white people entered the land around the present Denmark River, the area was inhabited by the Noongar. These aborigines called the river and the inlet Kurrabup, which means 'place of the black swan'. The Noongars disappeared out of the Denmark region in the beginning of the 20th century.

Although the 'South Land' was discovered by the Dutch and a major western part of the continent was called Nieuw Holland (New Holland), the Dutch didn't colonize the land, although the name New Holland was officially in use until 1824 and could be found on Dutch maps towards the end of the 19th century. The British were more dynamic than the Dutch, who were mainly interested in the Indonesian Archipelago and when the French showed their interest in the western part of Australia, Britain decided to colonize the whole continent around 1825. Dutch names of areas, e.g. Nuyts Land, Eendrachtsland and De Wit's Land disappeared or were anglicized, e.g. Swaene-revier became Swan River. Sometimes Dutch names survived in e.g. Arnhem Land and Cape Leeuwin. Leeuwin Land was the old Dutch name of the area, in which the present Denmark River can be found. The river was discovered in 1829 by the naval doctor Thomas Braidwood Wilson, the first white man who explored the area. Wilson, who was assisted on his exploring trip by the Noongar man Mokare, reported about the soil and the enormous trees and named the river after his colleague and friend, the English doctor Alexander Denmark. The name of Denmark has nothing to do with Denmark in Europe, although many workmen in the wood trade migrated from Scandinavia to the region when milling became a booming business.

Around 1885 timber leases were taken out in the Denmark River area and 15 years later milling was at its peak, with Denmark having a population figure of about 2,000. A railway track from Denmark to Albany was built to transport the Karri, which was a wanted article all over the world. Lots of houses in Britain were built with Denmark timber and roads in London were paved with karri blocks from Denmark. However, resource depletion soon resulted in a total collapse of the timber industry. The population declined dramatically and only started to revive with the introduction of the Group Settlement Scheme in the 1920's. Small farms of 40ha (100acres) were developed to create pasture for cattle, dairying and orcharding, manly apples. Conditions were often poor and some of the small farmers could hardly survive. They worked in one of the two timber mills operating around the middle of the 20th century. By the the 1960's the population had increased to 1,500 and was becoming attractive to alternative life-stylers, early retirees and intensive agricuture e.g. grapes. Wine growers discovered the value of the rich karri loam for their vineyards. Riesling and Chardonnay were the first grapes grown on Denmark soil, soon followed by other varieties. Within 50 years the area became a wine region of importance. In 2008 more than 25 vineyards had been established around Denmark.

Tourism started, when American soldiers stationed in Albany during World War II made outings to Denmark and asked for souvenirs and a place for a cuppa. After the war Denmark became a popular holiday destination for West Australians. Meanwhile the region is widely commended for its unpolluted water and air and the abundance of a lush green vegetation.

Flora - Fauna
Denmark is surrounded by native woodland with trees in a large variety, especially gum trees like the Marri, the Karri, the Jarrah and the Red Tingle, of which the latter can reach a height of 60 metres. The presence of all these trees in an environment for the greater part still untouched, is unique. A rare natural wonder is the Red Flowering Gum with its cheerful scarlet blossom.

In spring thousands of different wildflower species can be seen, e.g. orchids. Many species are unique for the Denmark area.

There is a rich bird life with splendid blue wrens, emus, ibises, magpies and parrots. Many sorts of reptiles can be found and marsupials like the grey kangaroo, the quokka, the bandicoot and the possum. The abundance of fish attracts dolphins and seals and every year whales pay a visit to the Denmark waters for a rest during their long trip up north.

Traffic - Location
Denmark is situated along the South Coast Highway and is serviced by the TransWA public transport system¸. The town has an airstrip for small planes.

The location on the Denmark River with its old wooden bridge and the ample presence of native vegetation in and around the urban area gives the town a picturesque appearance. Some old buildings date from the pioneering era like the wooden Anglican Church, the oldest still existing building on Strickland Street, the shopping street in the centre of town. The Denmark Historical Museum is a rich source of information about the town and its past.

Near the Denmark River mouth is the authentic wooden Railway Bridge, where several walking trails come together, like the Denmark-Nornalup Heritage Trail and the well-known Bibbulmun Track, which runs from the Perth region to Albany.

Tourism - Wood Wine Weather
The mild climate, the restfulness, the space and the wonders of nature make Denmark a wanted place to be. A modest sea traffic and the total absence of heavy industry are rewarded by pristine beaches and crystal clear ocean water, of which the big waves are a constant magnet for surfers. Nature lovers like Denmark for its walk trails, undulating landscape, tall trees and wildflowers. The environment and most especially the National Parks are carefully monitored and managed and all beaches are well looked after. The Tree Top Walk''Valley of the Giants near Nornalup in the west part of the Shire of Denmark helps to understand the majesty of the Karri Forest.

Every fortnight on Sunday the Community Market is held in the town centre, where locally grown fruit and vegetables can be bought and where artisans sell their products, but the highlights are the Denmark Markets in Berridge Park on the Denmark River bank. Around Christmas and Easter a plethora of locally made artwork can be found there and people can listen to local performers, while sitting on the grass or in the gazebo. These art markets give a good impression of the couleur locale.

In 2007 Denmark opened a Visitor Centre in a totally new set-up. It is an interpretive centre, where guests can get information about things to be seen and make bookings for accommodation, or stroll through the shop with mostly locally made produce and artwork. The centre has an art gallery and a wine and food room where visitors will find ample information about the wineries and eateries in Denmark and about local produce. The centre also has a woodturners workshop, where demonstrations are given. Pièce de résistance is the Barometer Tower, which houses The Bert Bolle Barometer, a 12 metre high water barometer, recognized as the largest in the world.