Kordabup: Heritage on the Styx River

Kordabup tells a story of early settlers and historic trails, as well as granite, water and a seasonal waterfall. These different facets of the area give your trip different points of focus: you can explore the region’s history or discover its distinctive river landscapes. For families who want to find out together what has shaped an area, the historic traces offer tangible points of interest. If you’re looking for nature experiences, the Styx River and Styx River Waterfall provide two distinct themes to consider when planning your trip.

Styx River: Water and heritage

The Styx River lies in the upper catchment of the Kordabup River near Parry Inlet. The river as a whole is significant as Noongar heritage. Its distinctive geological features also shape the area: the river flows over a granite rock face into a large pool. Large, well-formed Gnamma holes are set into the rock face and remain filled with water all year round. The combination of river, rock and these waterholes makes the Styx River a notable nature and heritage attraction in Kordabup.

Styx River Waterfall is a separate heritage site on the Kordabup River. It includes a large pool and a seasonal waterfall. Its seasonal nature sets it apart from the Gnamma holes at the Styx River, which hold water year-round. If you’re interested in river landscapes, these specific differences can help you decide what kinds of outings appeal to you, rather than treating both places as the same nature experience.

Remembering the 1924 settlers

A plaque in Devon and Cornwall Group Park commemorates the early settlers of 1924. In April of that year, Group 114 camped in the area. It represented families from Devon and Cornwall in England. The park is a memorial park area of considerable historic and social heritage significance. The plaque and the memory of the group give the place a tangible connection to the families who camped in the area at the time. If you enjoy including local history in your travels, you can add this aspect of Kordabup to your mix of interests.

Historic traces along the trails

The Forest Hill and Moriarty–Camballup Trails feature traces of tree markings, ruins, stone ovens, watering places and river crossings. These features confirm the course of the original route. The trails consist of sections of two former, unofficial stock routes: one dates from 1870, the other from around 1900. Parts of the trails serve as historic routes. Each type of trace tells its own story about how the routes were used: tree markings and river crossings indicate different aspects from ruins, stone ovens and watering places. For a history-focused visit, they offer a different perspective from the park’s commemorative plaque.

Planning your trip and finding a holiday rental in Kordabup

If Styx River Waterfall is among your planned experiences, access is an important practical consideration: it is via Kordabup Road and Fernley Road, and a four-wheel-drive vehicle is required. This requirement relates to access to the waterfall. Keep it in mind when planning your trip and looking for a holiday rental in Kordabup. The park and trails offer other points of interest for history lovers; these should not be confused with the access requirement for the waterfall. This will help you distinguish between heritage, historic routes and river landscapes when choosing the focus of your holiday.

More destinations: Chapman Hill, Jurien Bay, Yanchep, Roleystone, Carnamah, Manjimup, Wellard and Woodanilling.

For the main travel overview: Western Australia.