# Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup

The Shire of Donnybrook Balingup is a local government area in the South West region of Western Australia, about 35 kilometres (22 mi) southeast of Bunbury and about 220 kilometres (137 mi) south of the state capital, Perth. The Shire covers an area of about 1,560 square kilometres (602 sq mi), and its seat of government is the town of Donnybrook.

## History

The Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup was established on 26 March 1970 with the amalgamation of the Shire of Donnybrook and the Shire of Balingup. The merged shire initially retained the Donnybrook name, but adopted the Donnybrook-Balingup name on 17 July 1970. The new council was administered from Donnybrook.
The Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup is also home to a number of heritage-listed historic properties including Ferndale Homestead and Southampton homestead.

## Indigenous people

The Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup is located on the traditional land of the Wardandi people of the Noongar nation.

## Wards

In 2001 the Shire abolished wards and all nine councillors represent the entire shire.
Prior to this, four wards made up the council:
* Donnybrook (including Argyle, Irishtown and Beelerup)
* Preston (area east of Donnybrook including Lowden, Mumballup and Noggerup)
* Central (including Kirup, Upper Capel, Brazier, Newlands, Brookhampton and Thompsons Brook)
* Balingup (including Mullalyup, Grimwade, Upper Balingup, Southampton and Ferndale[Lower Balingup])

## Towns and localities

The towns and localities of the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:
| Locality | Population | Area |
| Argyle | 575 (SAL 2021) | 13.8 km$^2$ (5.3 sq mi) |
| Balingup | 565 (SAL 2021) | 88.5 km$^2$ (34.2 sq mi) |
| Beelerup | 126 (SAL 2021) | 27 km$^2$ (10 sq mi) |
| Brazier | 40 (SAL 2021) | 79 km$^2$ (31 sq mi) |
| Brookhampton | 249 (SAL 2021) | 54.3 km$^2$ (21.0 sq mi) |
| Charley Creek | 68 (SAL 2021) | 21.7 km$^2$ (8.4 sq mi) |
| Cundinup * | 62 (SAL 2021) | 156.5 km$^2$ (60.4 sq mi) |
| Donnybrook | 3,035 (SAL 2021) | 25 km$^2$ (9.7 sq mi) |
| Glen Mervyn | 47 (SAL 2021) | 37.8 km$^2$ (14.6 sq mi) |
| Grimwade | 0 (SAL 2016) | 50 km$^2$ (19 sq mi) |
| Kirup | 156 (SAL 2021) | 76.9 km$^2$ (29.7 sq mi) |
| Lowden | 165 (SAL 2021) | 44.7 km$^2$ (17.3 sq mi) |
| Mullalyup | 149 (SAL 2021) | 82.7 km$^2$ (31.9 sq mi) |
| Mumballup | 100 (SAL 2021) | 40.6 km$^2$ (15.7 sq mi) |
| Newlands | 112 (SAL 2021) | 23.4 km$^2$ (9.0 sq mi) |
| Noggerup | 99 (SAL 2021) | 194.9 km$^2$ (75.3 sq mi) |
| Paynedale | 60 (SAL 2021) | 76.5 km$^2$ (29.5 sq mi) |
| Queenwood | 79 (SAL 2021) | 34.3 km$^2$ (13.2 sq mi) |
| Southampton | 84 (SAL 2021) | 126.1 km$^2$ (48.7 sq mi) |
| Thomson Brook | 89 (SAL 2021) | 86.5 km$^2$ (33.4 sq mi) |
| Upper Capel | 177 (SAL 2021) | 107.9 km$^2$ (41.7 sq mi) |
| Wilga West | 18 (SAL 2021) | 178 km$^2$ (69 sq mi) |
| Yabberup | 162 (SAL 2021) | 68.6 km$^2$ (26.5 sq mi) |
* (* indicates locality is only partially located within this shire)

## Heritage-listed places

As of 2023, 113 places are heritage-listed in the Shire of Donnybrook–Balingup, of which twelve are on the State Register of Heritage Places, among them the Southampton homestead.