Peel (Western Australia)

History

Just like the rest of Western Australia, the Peel region was inhabited by Indigenous Australians, specifically the Pindjarup dialect group of the Noongar people, prior to European settlement. Shortly after the establishment of the Swan River Colony in 1829, part of the northern coastal area of the Peel region was settled under a program known as the Peel Settlement Scheme, organised by Thomas Peel. However the scheme was poorly administered, and many settlers died of malnutrition in the first few months. The surviving settlers abandoned the area, with some moving inland where they found fertile soil.

In 1846, Western Australia's first mining operation was established at Yarrabah (near present-day Mundijong), mining lead, silver and zinc. The Jarrahdale timber mill, established in May 1872, became the state's largest timber operation, and led to the development of service centres for the timber industry along the Perth–Picton railway line at Mundijong, Waroona and Dwellingup. In recent times, the timber industry has declined, but the establishment of alumina refineries at Pinjarra and Wagerup, and gold mines at Boddington, have helped the local economy.

Economy

The economy of the Peel region is dominated by mining and mineral processing; the area has large reserves of bauxite, some gold and mineral sands, and an aluminium refinery. Other important economic sectors include agriculture and a substantial equine industry.

Name controversy

The region is named after Thomas Peel, a British settler in Australia who was involved in the Pinjarra massacre of Aboriginal Binjareb people. In 2017, a campaign to change the name of the region was launched. It received the backing of MP for Murray-Wellington Robyn Clarke. The campaign was rejected by the premier of Western Australia Mark McGowan on 25 October 2017.

References

References

1. (2012). "Place Name Search: Peel Region". Commonwealth of Australia ([[Geoscience Australia]]).
2. (2021). "Regional Development Commission Boundaries (DPIRD-020)".
3. link. (28 September 2013 with ''Urban growth monitor : Perth metropolitan, Peel and Greater Bunbury regions : Urban Development Program.'' Perth, W.A. : Western Australian Planning Commission, 2010. {{ISBN). link. (28 September 2013 for the changes in 20 years in relation to growth and urban development)
4. . (November 2019). ["Peel Fast Facts"](https://www.peel.wa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Peel-Fast-Facts-v3-Nov-2019.pdf). *Peel Development Commission*.
5. (25 March 2020). "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area, 2018 to 2019".
6. Hondros, Nathan. (25 October 2017). "MP backs campaign to change Peel region's 'disrespectful' name". [[WAtoday]].
7. (25 October 2017). "WA premier rejects Peel region name change". [[The West Australian]].
8. Hondros, Nathan. (26 October 2017). "'I'm not into changing the names of regions': Premier rejects Peel name change". [[WAtoday]].