History

The City of Armadale extends from the coastal plain, across the scarp and into the hills and valleys of the Darling Range. Found within its boundaries are the localities of Armadale, Kelmscott, Roleystone, Bedfordale and Forrestdale, each with a variety of different features which have combined to give the Armadale area a distinctive identity and character.

Kelmscott is one of the oldest towns in Western Australia, the townsite being proclaimed in 1830, only a year after the Swan River Colony was established.

Although the district prospered as a centre for timber cutting, orcharding, dairying, market gardening and brickmaking, by the end of the century it was being eclipsed by Armadale, a town that grew up around the Narrogin Inn, a hostelry established in 1852 at the point where the road from Perth forked, one branch going off to Albany, the other to Bunbury (now the Albany and South West highways). The Inn became important as the first staging post out of Perth for travellers going south. The original Inn has long gone but the present one (built 1936) remains as an important landmark and hotel. The opening of the South West Railway in 1893 accelerated Armadale's growth.

The valleys and plateau lands to the east of the Kelmscott and Armadale townsites were initially exploited for timber; the extensive jarrah forest providing a copious supply. Yet despite intensive logging much of this forest remains for the visitors to explore. In the valleys however, the rich soil and reliable water supply encouraged more permanent settlement. Along the Canning valley, the haunt of Moondyne Joe, Western Australia's most notorious bushranger, became known as Roleystone. Further south, other pioneers settled the upper Wungong valley and by 1890 more settlers were establishing orchards along the upper Neerigen Brook. By 1904 this area was being referred to as Bedfordale.

The localities of Roleystone and Bedfordale contain some of Armadale's most glorious scenery. The Heritage Country Tourist Route 205 was developed to allow visitors to appreciate the beauty found in these areas. Along the route, three dams may be visited: the Canning, Wungong and Churchman Brook, all of which boast excellent facilities. West of Armadale is Forrestdale, first settled in the late 1880s. Originally covered with banksia woodland and scrub, the flat, sandy and in places, swampy nature of the countryside in this locality contrasts with the land of the Darling Scarp and Ranges. Lake Forrestdale is a significant nature reserve and has been recognised by the world environmental movement as a site deserving complete protection.

The richness of the City's history and heritage is well documented and displayed in the History House Museum, part of the historic precinct located in Minnawarra Park, astride the Neerigen Brook at Armadale.