Honouring the past, preserving the future

The Noongar people were the original inhabitants of this region. The name Mundaring comes from a local Aboriginal camp known as “Mundahring”, meaning “a high place on a high place” in the Noongar language.

The Shire of Mundaring sits on Whadjuk Noongar Country, and we respectfully acknowledge their deep and enduring connection to this land — past, present and future.

European settlement

European exploration of the hills began soon after the Swan River Colony was founded in 1829. Chidlow’s Well, now Chidlow, was the Shire’s earliest official townsite, gazetted in 1831.

European settlement followed in the 1840s, with land used primarily for timber-cutting, quarrying, vineyards, orchards, and poultry farming.

The area was formally established as the Greenmount Road District in 1903, later becoming the Shire of Mundaring in 1961.

Many townsites, including Darlington, Glen Forrest and Parkerville, grew around railway stations and sawmills — shaping the Shire’s distinctive village layout and community life.

Trails, heritage and natural attractions

The Railway Reserves Heritage Trail traces the path of the original Eastern Railway, stretching 59km through the Shire. It links our historic towns, natural attractions and heritage sites — and is a favourite for walking, cycling and storytelling.

Today, the Shire is home to 144 heritage-listed places, including 26 on the State Register of Heritage Places.

Notable heritage and natural sites include:

  • Mundaring Weir and Pump Station No.1
  • Swan View Tunnel – WA’s first rail tunnel
  • John Forrest, Beelu and Greenmount National Parks
  • Lake Leschenaultia – a former railway reservoir, now a popular swimming and picnic spot
  • Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Trails including the Bibbulmun Track, Munda Biddi Trail, C.Y. O’Connor Trail and Kep Track.

The Shire also features boutique wineries, art galleries, and award-winning restaurants nestled in beautiful natural surroundings.

Celebrating culture and community

Cultural and community facilities support heritage preservation and storytelling, including:

Community groups, artists, historians and local volunteers all contribute to keeping our stories alive and accessible for future generations.